Photodynamic therapy response in cats with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma as a function of fluence

The response of advanced stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) following treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been poor. It was the aim of this pilot study to determine whether an increase in the delivered fluence (i.e. energy density) would improve the duration of tumour remission in cats with advanced-stage SCC. Tumours were treated with aluminium phthalocyanine tetrasulphonate (AlPcS₄) PDT at a fluence of either 100 J cm⁻² or 200 J cm⁻² and tumour response was evaluated at regular intervals. Those feline tumours treated with a fluence of 100 J cm⁻² ( n = 8) had a significantly shorter median remission duration (69 days; range 0–619 days) than those feline tumours treated with 200 J cm⁻² ( n = 6; 522 days; range 151–1057 days). It is our conclusion that a fluence of 200 J cm⁻² is well tolerated and more effective when treating cats with advanced stage cutaneous SCC.     

Impact of UV-C irradiation on the cell wall-degrading enzymes during ripening of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit

The effect of a hormic dose of UV-C (254 nm) on changes in fruit firmness and cell wall-degrading enzyme (CWDE) activity was determined using tomato fruit. Throughout the storage period, a decrease in firmness was jointly observed with an increase of the CWDE (polygalacturonase, pectin methyl esterase, cellulase, xylanase, beta-D-galactosidase, and protease) activity for all treatments, suggesting the involvement of these enzymes in the ripening process. However, the enhancement in the activity of the CWDE was significantly less in fruit subjected to the hormic dose of UV-C. This reduction may explain why irradiated fruit were firmer than control and consequently may explain how UV-C could delay the ripening and senescence process. We suggest that the CWDE are one of the targets of the UV-C, and by this action, irradiation contributed to a delay of the cell wall degradation and consequently retarded softening of the tomato fruit tissues.     

EFFECTS OF METHYL JASMONATE TREATMENT ON ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM DAMAGES IN SOYBEAN

In the present study, the interactive effects of methyl jasmonate (0, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) and cadmium chloride (0 and 500 μM) on growth, biochemical, and physiological parameters of soybean plants were investigated. The plants were first treated with methyl jasmonate and then exposed to cadmium stress. Cadmium reduced shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and increased lipid peroxidation in leaves. Methyl jasmonate, especially at a lower level (0.01 mM), significantly alleviated the cadmium damage to shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and also, reduced lipid peroxidation. The increase in catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities were also observed under cadmium stress. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase was enhanced by methyl jasmonate under no stress and cadmium stress. However, peroxidase activity increased under no stress conditions. Based on our results it could be concluded that the application of methyl jasmonate caused significant alleviation of cadmium damages to soybean plants.     

基于距离误差的机器人参数辨识模型与冗余性分析

为避免机器人运动学参数辨识过程中,测量坐标系与机器人基坐标系之间繁琐的坐标变换,首先利用关节旋量的空间几何特性,提出了基于伴随变换的距离误差模型。其次,针对距离误差模型中可辨识参数的冗余性,通过辨识雅可比矩阵的零空间分析,确定了可辨识参数的数目与误差测量方式之间的关系。确定了绕对应关节旋转的测量方式和相对初始位形的测量方式下可辨识参数的数目。最后,对KUKA youBot机器人的运动学参数辨识进行了实验研究,实验结果验证了距离误差模型的有效性和参数冗余性分析的正确性。     

Molecular survey of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma</Emphasis> infection in sheep and goat from Fars province,Southern Iran

Toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality in human fetus and in immunocompromised patients. Moreover, it becomes a major cause of abortion in sheep and goats. Since consumption of meat of infected lamb and goat is considered as the main sources of human infection in Iran, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in edible tissues of sheep and goats in Shiraz in 2008. Samples of brain, tongue, liver, and muscles of neck, intercostals, and femoral were taken from 56 sheep and 22 goats and tested by PCR. The total prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among animals was found to be 33.3%. Five out of 22 goats (22.7%) and 21 out of 56 sheep (37.5%) were infected by Toxoplasma. Differences between the prevalence rate of infection among females (nine out of 14 = 46%) and males animals (12 out of 45 = 29.5%) was significant (P = 0.013). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the age of animals and the rate of infection; animals greater than 2 years old showed a higher rate of infection (47%) in comparison with those less than 2 years old (25%, P = 0.04). The highest infected tissue was tongue (21.8%) followed by brain (19.2%) and femoral and intercostal muscles (17.9%). This study demonstrated a high level of Toxoplasma infection in slaughtered animals in Shiraz and these should be considered as the main sources of infection for human population in the region.