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Spatial stochastic simulation offers potential as a quantitative method for pest risk analysis.

Pest risk analysis represents an emerging field of risk analysis that evaluates the potential risks of the introduction and establishment of plant pests into a new geographic location and then assesses the management options to reduce those potential risks. Development of new and adapted methodology is required to answer questions concerning pest risk analysis of exotic plant pests. This research describes a new method for predicting the potential establishment and spread of a plant pest into new areas using a case study, Ralstonia solanacearum, a bacterial disease of potato. This method combines current quantitative methodologies, stochastic simulation, and geographic information systems with knowledge of pest biology and environmental data to derive new information about pest establishment potential in a geographical region where a pest had not been introduced. This proposed method extends an existing methodology for matching pest characteristics with environmental conditions by modeling and simulating dissemination behavior of a pest organism. Issues related to integrating spatial variables into risk analysis models are further discussed in this article.

Ecosystem↗

Optical recording of epileptiform voltage changes in the neocortical slice.

Voltage sensitive probes were used to monitor the development, distribution, and spread of epileptiform potentials with a photodiode array in neocortical slices of guinea pigs. Epileptiform activity was induced by bath application of bicuculline-methiodide or 3,4-diaminopyridine and electrical stimulation of white matter or cortical layer I. Stimulation evoked a primary or early potential which was followed by a delayed epileptiform potential with a larger spatial extent. Shape, duration and amplitude of the delayed epileptiform potential varied strongly among slices and across the recording area and could reach largest amplitudes at a distance from the stimulation point. At a specific recording site, however, with repeated stimulation, potentials were generated in a stereotyped way. Intracellularly recorded delayed epileptiform potentials corresponded very closely at least to the early part of the optical response. Epileptiform activity appeared in layer III as soon as the primary potential reached sufficient amplitude there. Apart from this relationship, the distribution and spread of maximal amplitudes of delayed epileptiform potentials were segregated from those of early potentials. Early potentials reached maximal amplitudes close to the stimulation site. In contrast, the largest amplitudes of delayed epileptiform potentials were always found in layer III. A second maximum occasionally occurred in layer V. The horizontal amplitude distribution of epileptiform potentials was asymmetric, i.e. amplitudes increased to one side and decreased to the other. Early potential maxima spread from deeper to upper layers when initiated by white matter stimulation and from upper to deeper layers when initiated by layer I stimulation. In contrast, delayed epileptiform potentials always spread from layer III to lower layers and to the sides. Velocity of spread of early potentials and delayed epileptiform potentials differed systematically along the vertical and horizontal axis. The distribution of maximal amplitudes, shape, and pattern, of spread of epileptiform potentials was the same whether white matter or layer I was stimulated. The independence of delayed epileptiform potential characteristics from the point of stimulation and from early potential characteristics suggests that epileptiform activity is determined by intrinsic properties of the cortex and not by afferent activation.

4-Aminopyridine↗

A spatial statistical approach to malaria mapping.

BACKGROUND: Good maps of malaria risk have long been recognized as an important tool for malaria control. The production of such maps relies on modelling to predict the risk for most of the map, with actual observations of malaria prevalence usually only known at a limited number of specific locations. Estimation is complicated by the fact that there is often local variation of risk that cannot be accounted for by the known covariates and because data points of measured malaria prevalence are not evenly or randomly spread across the area to be mapped. METHOD: We describe, by way of an example, a simple two-stage procedure for producing maps of predicted risk: we use logistic regression modelling to determine approximate risk on a larger scale and we employ geo-statistical ('kriging') approaches to improve prediction at a local level. Malaria prevalence in children under 10 was modelled using climatic, population and topographic variables as potential predictors. After the regression analysis, spatial dependence of the model residuals was investigated. Kriging on the residuals was used to model local variation in malaria risk over and above that which is predicted by the regression model. RESULTS: The method is illustrated by a map showing the improvement of risk prediction brought about by the second stage. The advantages and shortcomings of this approach are discussed in the context of the need for further development of methodology and software.

Child↗

Characterization of septal penetration in 511 keV SPECT.

BACKGROUND: Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with 511 keV photons is a challenging modality and collimators for this purpose require trade-offs among resolution, sensitivity and septal penetration. While PET is the modality of choice for imaging at 511 keV, there are some procedures, e.g., dual-isotope imaging, in which 511 keV SPECT has a role. AIM: To measure the imaging properties of a VPC-93 SPECT collimator designed for imaging at 511 keV and to isolate the effects of septal penetration. METHODS: NaI gamma camera projection images of (18)F (511 keV) and (99m)Tc (140 keV) point sources were measured and the corresponding modulation transfer functions calculated. The projection images were reconstructed via filtered back-projection to obtain the tomographic three-dimensional (3-D) point spread function. Differences between the 511 and 140 keV results were attributed mainly to septal penetration. Contrast measurements were made separately using (18)F and (99m)Tc of a 20 cm phantom containing hot spheres and a warm background. Both isotopes were also used in imaging studies of a 3-D Hoffman brain phantom. RESULTS: Reconstructed 511 keV point source images were spatially extended with more than half of the total reconstructed counts appearing away from the point source region. The number of false counts contained in the image as a function of distance from the true source location remains approximately constant for large distances out to at least 14 cm. Septal penetration results in a rapid roll-off with spatial frequency of collimator response. The response of the collimator to 511 keV photons falls to half of its 0-frequency response at 0.03 cm(-1). For 140 keV photons this value is 0.20 cm(-1). A result is reduced image contrast as measured in the phantom sphere studies. Septal penetration causes image degradation through large-scale blurring. Image noise characteristics are modified and correlations are extended into many transaxial planes. CONCLUSIONS: Both 2-D and 3-D point spread functions for 511 and 140 keV photons using the VPC-93 collimator have been measured. Septal penetration unfavourably affects image resolution and changes image noise characteristics. Without compensation, the effects of septal penetration are readily apparent in images of real objects.

Humans↗

Stimulus-induced patterns of bioelectric activity in human neocortical tissue recorded by a voltage sensitive dye.

Stimulus-induced pattern of bioelectric activity in human neocortical tissue was investigated by use of the voltage sensitive dye RH795 and a fast optical recording system. During control conditions stimulation of layer I evoked activity predominantly in supragranular layers showing a spatial extent of up to 3000 microm along layer III. Stimulation in white matter evoked distinct activity in infragranular layers with a spatial extent of up to 3000 microm measured along layer V. The mean amplitude of optical signals close to the stimulated sites in layer I and white matter determined 25 ms following the stimulus, decreased by 50% at a lateral distance of approximately 900 microm and 1200 microm, respectively. Velocity of spread along the vertical stimulation axis reached 0.24 m/s in the supragranular layers (layers I to III) and then decreased to 0.09 m/s following layer I activation; stimulation of white matter induced a velocity of spread in layer V of 0.38 m/s, which slowed down to 0.12 m/s when passing the lower border of lamina IV. The horizontal velocities of spread determined from the stimulation site to a lateral distance of 500 microm reached 0.26-0.28 m/s and 0.28-0.35 m/s for layer I and white matter stimulation, respectively. At larger distances velocity of spread decreased. Increased excitability (Mg(2+)-free solution) had no significant effect on the spatio-temporal distribution of evoked activity as compared with control conditions. There were also no obvious differences between the results obtained in slices, which generated spontaneously sharp waves and those which were not spontaneously active. About 30% of the slices (n=7) displayed a greatly different response pattern, which seemed not to be related in a simple way to the stimulation as was the case in the majority of the investigated slices. The activity pattern of those slices appeared atypical in regard to their deviations of the vertical and horizontal extent of activity, to their reduced spatial extent of activity during increased excitability, to their layer-related distribution of activity, and to the appearance of afterdischarges.Concluding, in 30% of the human temporal lobe slices atypical activity pattern occurred which obviously reflect intrinsic epileptiform properties of the resected tissue. The majority of slices showed stereotyped activity pattern without evidence for increased excitability.

Adolescent↗

Fluorescent localization of calcium at sites of cell attachment and spreading.

Chlorotetracycline (CTC), a calcium-chelating fluorescent probe identifies and localizes calcium when applied to cultured neural crest cells. The fluorescence occurs at specific membrane regions involved in cell attachment and spreading as well as with the formation of cytoskeletal stress fibers (actin microfilament bundles). The observed CTC reaction indicates that calcium sequestration and the development of these membrane-cytoskeletal features share a temporal and spatial pattern. Thus, the selective availability of calcium may be an important determinant of cell morphogenesis.

Ambystoma↗

2D J-resolved spiral spectroscopic imaging at 7 T: application to mobile lipid mapping in a rat glioma.

Lactate (Lac) and mobile lipids (Lip), which are present in rat gliomas, are difficult to map because their 1H resonances overlap in the 1.3 ppm region. 2D J-resolved spectroscopy enables proper separation of the two resonance lines. To obtain high-spatial-resolution mapping of Lac and Lip resonances within a reasonable experiment time, we coupled 2D J-resolved spectroscopy with a fast spectroscopic imaging (SI) method, based on an out-and-in spiral k-space description. The method was applied to a rat glioma at 7 T, and Lac and Lip maps were reconstructed. The duration of SI (2D spatial, 2D spectral) was 64 min for a theoretical in-plane resolution of 1 x 1 mm, and a slice thickness of 2 mm (voxel size 8.2 microl, taking into account the point-spread function (PSF)).

Animals↗

Advantages of parallel imaging in conjunction with hyperpolarized helium--a new approach to MRI of the lung.

Hyperpolarized helium (3He) gas MRI has the potential to assess pulmonary function. The non-equilibrium state of hyperpolarized 3He results in the continual depletion of the signal level over the course of excitations. Under non-equilibrium conditions the relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the number of excitations significantly deviates from that established in the equilibrium state. In many circumstances the SNR increases or remains the same when the number of data acquisitions decreases. This provides a unique opportunity for performing parallel MRI in such a way that both the temporal and spatial resolution will increase without the conventional decrease in the SNR. In this study an analytical relationship between the SNR and the number of excitations for any flip angle was developed. Second, the point-spread function (PSF) was utilized to quantitatively demonstrate the unconventional SNR behavior for parallel imaging in hyperpolarized gas MRI. Third, a 24-channel (24ch) receive and two-channel (2ch) transmit phased-array system was developed to experimentally prove the theoretical predictions with 3He MRI. The in vivo experimental results prove that significant temporal resolution can be gained without the usual SNR loss in an equilibrium system, and that the entire lung can be scanned within one breath-hold (approximately 13 s) by applying parallel imaging to 3D data acquisition.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Temporal and spatial dynamics of the periodic increase in intracellular free calcium at fertilization of golden hamster eggs.

A series of periodic increases in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) occurred upon fertilization in golden hamster eggs. The spatial distribution of the Ca2+ transients was investigated in single zona-free, aequorin-injected eggs, inseminated by single sperm. A supersensitive TV camera system for recording Ca2+-aequorin luminescence enabled us to observe the spatial distribution of the Ca2+ rise. In the first response, which usually occurred 10-30 sec after the sperm attachment, the increase in [Ca2+]i began near the sperm attachment site, and the Ca2+ rise spread over the entire egg within 4-7 sec. The Ca2+ rise attained its peak in 5-8 sec, declined with almost even distribution, and ceased in 12-17 sec. The spreading Ca2+ rise was repeated in the second and sometimes the third response, starting from the same focus, but spreading more rapidly (approximately 2 sec). In succeeding responses [Ca2+]i increased synchronously in the whole cytoplasm within 1 sec. When additional sperm attached to the egg after the occurrence of the first response by the first sperm, the spread of the Ca2+ rise could take place from near the site of additional sperm attachment but only in the second or third response.

Aequorin↗

Morbidity and mortality of wild animals in relation to outbreaks of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Gabon, 1994-2003.

Antibody to Ebola virus was found in 14 (1.2%) of 1147 human sera collected in Gabon in 1981-1997. Six seropositive subjects were bled in the northeast in 1991, more than 3 years prior to recognition of the first known outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF), whilst eight came from the southwest where the disease has not been recognised. It has been reported elsewhere that 98 carcasses of wild animals were found in systematic studies in northeastern Gabon and adjoining northwestern Republic of the Congo (RoC) during five EHF epidemics in August 2001 to June 2003, with Ebola virus infection being confirmed in 14 carcasses. During the present opportunistic observations, reports were investigated of a further 397 carcasses, mainly gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills and bush pigs, found by rural residents in 35 incidents in Gabon and RoC during 1994-2003. Sixteen incidents had temporal and/or spatial coincidence with confirmed EHF outbreaks, and the remaining 19 appeared to represent extension of disease from such sites. There appeared to be sustained Ebola virus activity in the northeast in 1994-1999, with sequential spread from 1996 onwards, first westwards, then southerly, and then northeastwards, reaching the Gabon-RoC border in 2001. This implies that there was transmission of infection between wild mammals, but the species involved are highly susceptible and unlikely to be natural hosts of the virus.

Adolescent↗

Possible involvement of myofibroblasts in cellular recovery of uranyl acetate-induced acute renal failure in rats.

Cellular recovery in acute renal failure is a form of wound healing. Fibroblast-like cells or myofibroblasts are involved in wound healing. We examined the serial changes in tubular damage and origin and kinetics of regenerating cells in uranyl acetate-induced acute renal failure, with a special emphasis on interstitial myofibroblasts. Acute renal failure was induced in rats by intravenous injection of uranyl acetate (5 mg/kg). All rats received bromodeoxyuridine intraperitoneally 1 hour before sacrifice. Serial changes in the distribution of tubular necrosis and bromodeoxyuridine-incorporated or vimentin-positive regenerating cells, and their spatial and temporal relation to alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts as well as ED 1-positive monocytes/macrophages were examined. Necrotic tubules initially appeared around the corticomedullary junction after uranyl acetate injection, then spread both downstream and upstream of proximal tubules. Peritubular alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts appeared and extended along the denuded tubular basement membrane, establishing network formation throughout the cortex and the outer stripe of outer medulla at days 4 to 5. Tubular regeneration originated in nonlethally injured cells in the distal end of S3 segments, which was confirmed by lectin and immunohistochemical staining using markers for tubular segment. Subsequently, upstream proliferation was noted along the tubular basement membrane firmly attached by myofibroblasts. During cellular recovery, no entry of myofibroblasts into the tubular lumen across the tubular basement membrane was noted and only a few myofibroblasts showed bromodeoxyuridine positivity. The fractional area of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive interstitium reached a peak level at day 7 in the cortex and outer stripe of outer medulla, then gradually disappeared by day 15 and remained only around dilated tubules and in the expanded interstitium at day 21. ED 1-positive monocytes/macrophages were transiently infiltrated mainly into the region of injury. They did not show specific association with initially necrotic tubules, but some of them located in close proximity to regenerating tubules. Nonlethally injured cells at the distal end of proximal tubules are likely to be the main source of tubular regeneration, and the transient appearance of interstitial myofibroblasts attached to the tubular basement membrane immediately after tubular necrosis might play a role in promoting cellular recovery in possible association with monocytes/macrophages in uranyl acetate-induced acute renal failure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

The role of spatial frequency in color induction.

Color induction was measured for test and inducing chromaticities presented in spatial square-wave alternation, with spatial frequencies of 0.7, 4.0, 6.0 and 9.0 cpd. Observers matched the test chromaticities to a rectangular matching field using haploscopic presentation. Data were collected and analyzed within the framework of a cone chromaticity space, allowing analysis of spatial frequency effects on post-receptoral spectral opponent pathways. Assimilation, a shift of chromaticity toward the inducing chromaticity, was found at the highest spatial frequency (9.0 cpd). Contrast, a shift of chromaticity away from the inducing chromaticity, occurred at the lowest spatial frequency (0.7 cpd). The spatial frequency at the transition point from assimilation to contrast was near 4 cpd, independent of the cone axis. Assimilation was unaffected by the presence of a neutral surround and could be described by a spread light model. Contrast was reduced in the presence of a neutral surround. The data suggested that retinal contrast signals are important determinants in the perception of chromatic contrast.

Adult↗

Activation of Rap1, Cdc42, and rac by nectin adhesion system.

Nectin is an immunoglobulin-like cell-cell adhesion molecule and forms adherens junctions cooperatively with cadherin. Trans-interaction of nectin induces activation of Rap1, Cdc42, and Rac small G proteins. The activity of these small G proteins can be analyzed by the pull-down assay using GST-Ral-GDS fusion protein for Rap1 and GST-PAK-CRIB for Cdc42 and Rac. The fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) system is also available to spatially and temporally detect the activity of these small G proteins in the living cells. In addition to these assays, the activity of Cdc42 and Rac is indirectly, but easily, evaluated by the cell-spreading assay to examine formation of filopodia and lamellipodia, respectively. To clearly explore the effect of trans-interacting nectin on the small G proteins, we use L fibroblasts stably expressing nectin-1 (nectin-1-L cells) and the extracellular domain of nectin-3 fused to human IgG Fc (Nef-3). Treatment of nectin-1-L cells with Nef-3 remarkably increases both the amount of the GTP-bound form and the FRET efficiency of all Rap1, Cdc42, and Rac small G proteins. In the cell-spreading assay, Cdc42 and Rac activated in this way promote the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia, respectively. Here, we focus on how the activity of Cdc42 and Rac induced by trans-interacting nectin is examined by use of the pull-down and the cell-spreading assays.

Animals↗

Magnetic stimulation mapping of motor cortex: factors contributing to map area.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can evoke an electromyographic response in muscles of the hand with stimulation at a large number of scalp sites widely spaced over the contralateral primary motor area of the brain. To determine the extent to which this is due to current spread from the stimulating coil to a smaller region of excited cortex, excitability curves of motor evoked potential amplitude vs. stimulus intensity were measured at multiple scalp sites. It was found that these curves were of very similar shape, but with different offsets along the stimulus intensity axis. This could be explained on the basis of current flow to a small excitable region of cortex located at some depth in the brain. It is concluded that the surface area of TMS maps is primarily determined by current spread and by the relationship between the position of the coil on the scalp and the depth of the motor output region in the cortex, and does not necessarily provide a true indication of the spatial extent of the motor output region projecting to the target muscle.

Adult↗

Visualizing hippocampal synaptic function by optical detection of Ca2+ entry through the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel.

Fura-2 and imaging technology were used to detect intracellular Ca2+ changes in CA1 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices. During focal synaptic stimulation, one or more highly localized regions of Ca2+ elevation (hot spots) were detected in the dendrites. Ca2+ spread from the center of hot spots with properties consistent with diffusion. Several lines of evidence indicate that these hot spots were due to Ca2+ entry through N-methyl-D-aspartate synaptic channels. The spatial and temporal resolution of the method was sufficient to detect the response of single hot spots to single stimuli, thus providing a real-time method for monitoring local synaptic activity. Using this method, we show that synapses on the same dendrite differ in their probability of response and in their facilitation properties.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Analytic explanation of spatial resolution related to bandwidth and detector aperture size in thermoacoustic or photoacoustic reconstruction.

An analytic explanation of the spatial resolution in thermoacoustic or photoacoustic reconstruction is presented. Three types of specific recording geometries, including spherical, planar, and cylindrical surface, as well as other general cases, are investigated. Analytic expressions of the point-spread functions (PSF's), as a function of the bandwidth of the measurement system and the finite size of the detector aperture, are derived based on rigorous reconstruction formulas. The analyses clearly reveal that the dependence of the PSF's on the bandwidth of all recording geometries shares the same space-invariant expression while the dependence on the aperture size of the detector differs. The bandwidth affects both axial and lateral resolutions; in contrast, the detector aperture blurs the lateral resolution greatly but the axial resolution only slightly.

Acoustics↗

Stabilizing Turing patterns with subdiffusion in systems with low particle numbers.

The role of subdiffusion in the formation of spatial Turing patterns with particle number fluctuations is studied. It is demonstrated for a generic activator-inhibitor system that for normal diffusion the particle number fluctuations stabilize the homogenous steady state in a regime where the mean-field analysis already predicts stable spatial patterns. In contrast, pattern formation is stabilized considerably even for very low particle numbers when the activator moves subdiffusively while the inhibitor diffuses normally. In particular, this also holds true when the subdiffusive activator spreads faster than the inhibitor on small time scales. Possible applications to pattern formation in cell biology are discussed.

Journal Article↗

Development and characterization of a tissue equivalent plastic scintillator based dosimetry system.

High precision techniques in radiation therapy, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy, offer the potential for improved target coverage and increased normal tissue sparing compared with conformal radiotherapy. The complex fluence maps used in many of these techniques, however, often lead to more challenging quality assurance with dose verification being labor-intensive and time consuming. A prototype dose verification system has been developed using a tissue equivalent plastic scintillator that provides easy-to-acquire, rapid, digital dose measurements in a plane perpendicular to the beam. The system consists of a water-filled Lucite phantom with a scintillator screen built into the top surface. The phantom contains a silver coated plastic mirror to reflect scintillation light towards a viewing window where it is captured using a charge coupled device camera and a personal computer. Optical photon spread is removed using a microlouvre optical collimator and by deconvolving a glare kernel from the raw images. A characterization of the system was performed that included measurements of linear output response, dose rate dependence, spatial linearity, effective pixel size, signal uniformity and both short- and long-term reproducibility. The average pixel intensity for static, regular shaped fields between 3 cm X 3 cm and 12 cm x 12 cm imaged with the system was found to be linear in the dose delivered with linear regression analysis yielding a correlation coefficient r2 > 0.99. Effective pixel size was determined to be 0.53 mm/pixel. The system was found to have a signal uniformity of 5.6% and a long-term reproducibility/stability of 1.7% over a 6 month period. The system's ability to verify a dynamic treatment field was evaluated using 60 degrees dynamic wedged fields and comparing the results to two-dimensional film dosimetry. Results indicate agreement with two-dimensional film dosimetry distributions within 8% inside the field edges. With further development, this system promises to provide a fast, directly digital, and tissue equivalent alternative to current dose verification systems.

Biomimetic Materials↗