A fully automated deep learning pipeline for micro-CT-imaging-based densitometry of lung fibrosis murine models.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the archetype of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), is a chronic lung disease of a poor prognosis, characterized by progressively worsening of lung function. Although histology is still the gold standard for PF assessment in preclinical practice, histological data typically involve less than 1% of total lung volume and are not amenable to longitudinal studies. A miniaturized version of computed tomography (µCT) has been introduced to radiologically examine lung in preclinical murine models of PF.

Pivotal role of micro-CT technology in setting up an optimized lung fibrosis mouse model for drug screening.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with no curative pharmacological treatment. The most used animal model of IPF for anti-fibrotic drug screening is bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. However, several issues have been reported: the balance among disease resolution, an appropriate time window for therapeutic intervention and animal welfare remain critical aspects yet to be fully elucidated.

The importance of routine quality control for reproducible pulmonary measurements by in vivo micro-CT.

Micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging provides densitometric and functional assessment of lung diseases in animal models, playing a key role either in understanding disease progression or in drug discovery studies. The generation of reliable and reproducible experimental data is strictly dependent on a system's stability. Quality controls (QC) are essential to monitor micro-CT performance but, although QC procedures are standardized and routinely employed in clinical practice, detailed guidelines for preclinical imaging are lacking.

In-vivo lung fibrosis staging in a bleomycin-mouse model: a new micro-CT guided densitometric approach.

Although increasing used in the preclinical testing of new anti-fibrotic drugs, a thorough validation of micro-computed tomography (CT) in pulmonary fibrosis models has not been performed. Moreover, no attempts have been made so far to define density thresholds to discriminate between aeration levels in lung parenchyma. In the present study, a histogram-based analysis was performed in a mouse model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis by micro-CT, evaluating longitudinal density changes from 7 to 21 days after BLM challenge, a period representing the progression of fibrosis.

SU(3)_{1} Chiral Spin Liquid on the Square Lattice: A View from Symmetric Projected Entangled Pair States.

Quantum spin liquids can be faithfully represented and efficiently characterized within the framework of projected entangled pair states (PEPS). Guided by extensive exact diagonalization and density matrix renormalization group calculations, we construct an optimized symmetric PEPS for a SU(3)_{1} chiral spin liquid on the square lattice. Characteristic features are revealed by the entanglement spectrum (ES) on an infinitely long cylinder.

Evidence for the possible existence of a remnant L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase (GULO) gene in a teleost genome.

DNA fragments related to the cloudy catshark Scyliorhinus torazame L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase (GULO) cDNA were detected in a distant fish species. Although the Southern hybridization pattern was more distinct in species with active GULO, DNA fragments related to the GULO gene were also discovered in the common carp Cyprinus carpio. Additionally, in the common carp, inter-individual variation of the hybridization pattern was observed.

Genetic variability in residual feed intake in rainbow trout clones and testing of indirect selection criteria (Open Access publication).

Little is known about the genetic basis of residual feed intake (RFI) variation in fish, since this trait is highly sensitive to environmental influences, and feed intake of individuals is difficult to measure accurately. The purpose of this work was (i) to assess the genetic variability of RFI estimated by an X-ray technique and (ii) to develop predictive criteria for RFI. Two predictive criteria were tested: loss of body weight during feed deprivation and compensatory growth during re-feeding.

Valence bond entanglement entropy.

We introduce for SU(2) quantum spin systems the valence bond entanglement entropy as a counting of valence bond spin singlets shared by two subsystems. For a large class of antiferromagnetic systems, it can be calculated in all dimensions with quantum Monte Carlo simulations in the valence bond basis. We show numerically that this quantity displays all features of the von Neumann entanglement entropy for several one-dimensional systems.

Reduced lipid intake leads to changes in digestive enzymes in the intestine but has minor effects on key enzymes of hepatic intermediary metabolism in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss).

For sustainable aquaculture, the removal of marine resource ingredients in fish diets is an important objective. While most studies focus on the replacement of fish oil by vegetable oil, little is known on the nutritional effects of presence (which corresponds to the control diet) or absence of dietary fish oil. We studied fatty acid composition of brush-border membranes and digestive enzyme activities of the intestine and measured the expression and activities of several enzymes involved in the hepatic intermediary metabolism of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed for 7 weeks with or without fish oil.

Group feeding behavior of brown trout is a correlated response to selection for growth shaped by the environment.

Group feeding pattern is a response correlated to selection for growth in brown trout. Previous results suggest that the feeding pattern of two lines (NL and SY), selected with the same process at two different fish farms, differ. This study addresses the following questions: (i) are the patterns differentially fixed by the selection process and if yes (ii) is this explained by the different genetic background of the lines? In a first experiment, we tested if the group feeding behavior can be inherited.

Enhanced individual selection for selecting fast growing fish: the "PROSPER" method, with application on brown trout (Salmo trutta fario).

Growth rate is the main breeding goal of fish breeders, but individual selection has often shown poor responses in fish species. The PROSPER method was developed to overcome possible factors that may contribute to this low success, using (1) a variable base population and high number of breeders (Ne >100), (2) selection within groups with low non-genetic effects and (3) repeated growth challenges. Using calculations, we show that individual selection within groups, with appropriate management of maternal effects, can be superior to mass selection as soon as the maternal effect ratio exceeds 0.

Selection for growth in brown trout increases feed intake capacity without affecting maintenance and growth requirements.

The correlated responses in feed intake and G:F ratio with selection for increased growth rate were evaluated by comparing selected (S) and control (C) brown trout (Salmo trutta) reared under conditions known to affect feed efficiency: feed restriction and periods of compensatory growth. Nitrogen and energy requirements for maintenance and growth were also measured. Trout were allotted at comparable BW (3.

The optimum dietary indispensable amino acid pattern for growing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fry.

To determine the optimum indispensable (I) amino acid (AA) balance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fry, a single protocol established for the pig was adapted. The balance was calculated from the reduction in N gain after replacing about 45% of a single IAA by a mixture of dispensable AA in isonitrogenous diets.

Analysis of cell-specificity and variegation of transgene expression driven by salmon prolactin promoter in stable lines of transgenic rainbow trout.

In order to identify the specificity and functionality of salmon prolactin (sPRL) promoter, transgenic rainbow trout carrying a construct comprising the 2.4 kb fragment of the 5' flanking region of Atlantic Chinook sPRL gene fused either to the reporter genes cat (sPRL-cat) or lacZ (sPRL-lacZ) were produced. sPRL-cat in transgenic F0 fish expressed strongly CAT only in the pituitary gland.

Li2VO(Si,Ge)O4, a prototype of a two-dimensional frustrated quantum heisenberg antiferromagnet.

NMR and magnetization measurements in Li2VOSiO4 and Li2VOGeO4 are reported. The analysis of the susceptibility shows that both compounds are two-dimensional S = 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnets on a square lattice with a sizable frustration induced by the competition between the superexchange couplings J1 along the sides of the square and J2 along the diagonal. Li2VOSiO4 undergoes a low-temperature phase transition to a collinear order, as theoretically predicted for J2/J1>0.

Stable and full rescue of the pigmentation in a medaka albino mutant by transfer of a 17 kb genomic clone containing the medaka tyrosinase gene.

In the medaka Oryzias latipes, several albino strains have mutations in the tyrosinase gene that have been fully characterized at the molecular level. A genomic clone from wild-type medaka containing the 5 kb tyrosinase gene with its five exons, 10 kb of upstream sequences and 2 kb downstream sequences was introduced into fertilized eggs from a tyrosinase-negative albino strain. We show that the injection of this genomic clone predominantly conferred mosaic expression ending before the hatching stage.

Effects of replacing fish meal with soy protein concentrate and of DL-methionine supplementation in high-energy, extruded diets on the growth and nutrient utilization of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Our objectives were to test the potential replacement of fish meal by soy protein concentrate (SPC) in high-energy, extruded diets fed to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and to evaluate the efficiency of DL-methionine supplementation of soy-based diets. Groups of trout (initial BW 103 to 106 g) were fed to visual satiety with isonitrogenous (6.6% DM) high-energy (22.

Retention time of feed particles and liquids in the stomachs and intestines of dairy cows. Direct measurement and calculations based on faecal collection.

To validate a method for analysing indigestible marker excretion patterns in terms of digesta passage, the mean retention time (MRT) of long hay, ground hay and concentrate, marked, respectively, with thulium, ytterbium and dysprosium was measured in the total digestive tract (TMRT) and in the stomachs (SMRT) of four cows fed on a diet of hay in the long form (17.7 kg DM/day). The MRT of the particulate and liquid phases in the intestines was obtained after faecal particles labelled by Europium and Chromium EDTA were pulse dosed through the duodenal cannula.

Effect of feeding time on hepatic nucleic acid, plasma T3, T4, and GH concentrations in rainbow trout.

The effect of feeding time (dawn, midnight) on the growth performance and daily pattern of liver nucleic acid concentrations, plasma thyroid hormone, and growth hormone concentrations was studied in immature rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, mean individual weight: 55 g). Fish were held in groups of 20 individuals (12 groups per treatment) and maintained in flow-through tanks supplied with river water under natural photoperiod. Food pellets (Aqualim, 49% crude protein) were delivered daily over a 30-min period by means of belt feeders.

Mean retention time in digestive tract and digestion of fresh perennial ryegrass by lactating dairy cows: influence of grass maturity and comparison with a maize silage diet.

The effects of grass maturity on the mean retention time of liquid and particles, digestibility and duodenal nutrient flows were measured by feeding second cuts of perennial ryegrass to 3 fistulated lactating dairy cows over 2 successive periods (late June and mid-July, 28 and 49 d regrowth, respectively). Fresh forage was given ad libitum with 12% (dry matter (DM) basis) concentrate. The increase in maturity lowered grass nitrogen content, organic matter (OM) digestibility and non-ammoniacal nitrogen flow into the duodenum, but did not affect OM intake (13.

Changes in membrane ionic conductances and excitability characteristics of rat skeletal muscle during aging.

Membrane electrical properties, component ionic conductances and excitability characteristics of extensor digitorum longus muscle from 3-4, 16 and 29 months old rats were measured "in vitro". Fiber diameter, membrane resistance (Rm) and membrane capacitance, increased with aging, and the increase was significant at 29 months. The increase of Rm was mostly due to a decrease of chloride conductance (GC1), whereas potassium conductance (GK) increased only slightly, at 16 and 29 months.

Faecal water content and egg survival of goat gastro-intestinal strongyles under dry tropical conditions in Guadeloupe.

Faeces from naturally infected goats were deposited on a natural grassland during the dry season in Guadeloupe (French West Indies) at different times throughout the day. The grass was either 7 or 20-30 cm tall. After a period of between several hours and 7 days, the number of viable strongyle eggs and the faecal water content were measured.

[Water dynamics in the rumen of dairy cows: variation factors and relationship with particle transit].

Dilution rate and volume of water in the rumen varied between rations and dairy cows but were independent of the feed intake level. Correlations between rates of transit of liquid and particles were poor.