bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combination therapy of lovastatin and AMP‐activated protein kinase activator improves mitochondrial and peroxisomal functions and clinical disease in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model
Authors: Singh Inderjit , Samuvel Devadoss J. , Choi Seungho , Saxena Nishant , Singh Avtar K. , Won Jeseong
Published: January 2018

Recent studies report that loss and dysfunction of mitochondria and peroxisomes contribute to the myelin and axonal damage in multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a combination of lovastatin and AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator (AICAR) on the loss and dysfunction of mitochondria and peroxisomes and myelin and axonal damage in spinal cords, relative to the clinical disease symptoms, using a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, a model for MS). We observed that lovastatin and AICAR treatments individually provided partial protection of mitochondria/peroxisomes and myelin/axons, and therefore partial attenuation of clinical disease in EAE mice. However, treatment of EAE mice with the lovastatin and AICAR combination provided greater protection of mitochondria/peroxisomes and myelin/axons, and greater improvement in clinical disease compared with individual drug treatments. In spinal cords of EAE mice, lovastatin‐mediated inhibition of RhoA and AICAR‐mediated activation of AMPK cooperatively enhanced the expression of the transcription factors and regulators (e.g. PPARα/β, SIRT‐1, NRF‐1, and TFAM) required for biogenesis and the functions of mitochondria (e.g. OXPHOS, MnSOD) and peroxisomes (e.g. PMP70 and catalase). In summary, these studies document that oral medication with a combination of lovastatin and AICAR, which are individually known to have immunomodulatory effects, provides potent protection and repair of inflammation‐induced loss and dysfunction of mitochondria and peroxisomes as well as myelin and axonal abnormalities in EAE. As statins are known to provide protection in progressive MS (Phase II study), these studies support that supplementation statin treatment with an AMPK activator may provide greater efficacy against MS.
RGDS peptide inhibits activation of lymphocytes and adhesion of activated lymphocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro
Authors: Pozzetto Ubaldo , Aguzzi Maria Simona , Maggiano Nicola , Scala Enrico , Capelli Arnaldo , Castagneto Marco , Capogrossi Maurizio C , Citterio Franco , Serino Francesco , Facchiano Antonio
Published: January 2018

The Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) motif is known to mediate cell adhesion to several extracellular matrix components as well as cell–cell interactions. In the present study, we investigated whether the RGDS peptide interferes with cell–cell recognition‐based events such as allogeneic activation of PBMC and PBMC adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We show here for the first time, to our knowledge, that RGDS significantly inhibits adhesion of activated PBMC to HUVEC; in addition, RGDS inhibits PBMC allogenenic activation in human mixed lymphocyte reaction assays. Caspases played a pivotal role in both events, because preventing their activation abolished or strongly reduced the observed inhibitory effect. The RGDS antirecognition effect was strongly increased by pretreatment of HUVEC with RGDS, which affected mostly T lymphocyte adhesion to HUVEC. These results indicate that PBMC allogeneic activation, as well as reciprocal recognition between activated PBMC and endothelial cells, are RGDS‐dependent events that occur through a dual effect involving anti‐adhesive and caspase‐dependent mechanisms. These data suggest a potential role of RGDS in cell‐mediated immunity, inflammation and organ transplantation.
Structural and functional aspects of the Ly49 natural killer cell receptors
Authors: Dimasi Nazzareno , Biassoni Roberto
Published: January 2018

Natural killer cells are part of the first line of innate immune defence against virus‐infected cells and cancer cells in the vertebrate immune system. They are called ‘natural’ killers because, unlike cytotoxic T cells, they do not require a previous challenge and preactivation to become active. The Ly49 NK receptors are type II transmembrane glycoproteins, structurally characterized as disulphide‐linked homodimers. They share extensive homology with C‐type lectins, and they are encoded by a multigene family that in mice maps on chromosome 6. A fine balance between inhibitory and activating signals regulates the function of NK cells. Inhibitory Ly49 molecules bind primarily MHC class I ligands, whereas the ligands for activating Ly49 molecules may include MHC class I, but also interestingly MHC class I‐like molecules expressed by viruses, as is the case for Ly49H, which binds the m157 gene product of murine cytomegalovirus. In this study, we review the function and X‐ray crystal structure of the Ly49 NK cell receptors hitherto determined (Ly49A, Ly49C and Ly49I), and the structural features of the Ly49/MHC class I interaction as revealed by the X‐ray crystal structures of Ly49A/H‐2Dd and the recently determined Ly49C/H‐2Kb.
Daniel Bruun:
Authors: Hansen Steffen Stummann
Published: January 2018

One of the most remarkable contributions to our understanding of the Norse cultures of the North Atlantic was that of Daniel Bruun (1856-1931). A child of an innovative, prominent family from central Jutland, he received a military education and became a skilled cartographer. A dream from his youth to study Norse culture in Greenland was finally realised in 1894 when he conducted an impressive field campaign in the so-called Eastern Settlement. In the following years, he pursued his observations in Norse Greenland with comparative studies in Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Norway. On his initiative, and to a wide extent based on material collected by himself, the North Atlantic cultures were presented as a section of the Danish contribution to the World Exhibition of 1900 in Paris. His adventurous life, however, was not confined to the North Atlantic, but also included travels in Africa, Siberia, Asia, and North America.

In many ways, the energy and curiosity of Daniel Bruun can be compared to that of recently departed Klavs Randsborg, to whose memory this article is dedicated.
Overexpression of microRNA408 enhances photosynthesis, growth, and seed yield in diverse plants
Authors: Pan Jiawei , Huang Dahui , Guo Zhonglong , Kuang Zheng , Zhang He , Xie Xinyu , Ma Zengfeng , Gao Shaopei , Lerdau Manuel T. , Chu Chengcai , Li Lei
Published: January 2018

The ability of a plant to produce grain, fruit, or forage depends ultimately on photosynthesis. There have been few attempts, however, to study microRNAs, which are a class of endogenous small RNAs post‐transcriptionally programming gene expression, in relation to photosynthetic traits. We focused on miR408, one of the most conserved plant miRNAs, and overexpressed it in parallel in Arabidopsis, tobacco, and rice. The transgenic plants all exhibited increased copper content in the chloroplast, elevated abundance of plastocyanin, and an induction of photosynthetic genes. By means of gas exchange and optical spectroscopy analyses, we showed that higher expression of miR408 leads to enhanced photosynthesis through improving efficiency of irradiation utilization and the capacity for carbon dioxide fixation. Consequently, miR408 hyper‐accumulating plants exhibited higher rate of vegetative growth. An enlargement of seed size was also observed in all three species overproducing miR408. Moreover, we conducted a 2‐year‐two‐location field trial and observed miR408 overexpression in rice significantly increased yield, which was primarily attributed to an elevation in grain weight. Taken together, these results demonstrate that miR408 is a positive regulator of photosynthesis and that its genetic engineering is a promising route for enhancing photosynthetic performance and yield in diverse plants.
Status of the Trait Concept in Contemporary Personality Psychology: Are the Old Questions Still the Burning Questions?
Authors: Fajkowska Małgorzata , Kreitler Shulamith
Published: January 2018

This special issue of Journal of Personality addresses one of the cardinal concerns of personality psychology, namely, the status of traits in contemporary personality science. Trait theory is a major scientific model for personality explanation and research. Although there have been critiques of traits, typically formulated from the point of view of the social‐cognitive perspective, the trait approach can be viewed as a continuously developing paradigm. However, personality psychology persists in tackling burning questions concerning the status of traits that need to be answered. Modern trait approaches confront problems such as constructing an objective personality traits assessment, connecting the descriptive traits with explanatory processes, applying traits for understanding the individual person, clarifying the relation of traits to behavior, and using traits for solving cardinal concerns of personality psychology (e.g., personality organization). This special issue presents examples of contemporary trait theories that attempt to provide possible solutions to these issues and/or delineate other main issues to be resolved by future research and theorizing. We have asked contributors to portray their approach and describe in what way their trait theory continues a historic tradition and in what respect it breaks with the past and moves trait models to more mature scientific levels.
Audit of referrals for concern regarding labial appearance at the Royal Children's Hospital: 2000–2012
Authors: McQuillan Sarah K , Jayasinghe Yasmin , Grover Sonia R
Published: January 2018

Aim

To audit the clinical features and outcomes for all patients referred to our centre with concerns regarding labial appearance.

Methods

Young females referred to a paediatric/adolescent gynaecology tertiary centre between 2000 and 2012 with concerns regarding their labial appearance were retrospectively identified. Adolescents presenting with anomalies were excluded. Retrospective chart review was undertaken to identify reasons for referral, patient characteristics, outcome of referral and concurrent health problems.

Results

In total, 46 females presenting with concerns about labial appearance were identified. Five were excluded. Median age of the study population was 14.5 years (range 5–21 years). Only four (9.8%) underwent surgery after a minimum of five consultations each, with mental health review in three of four cases prior to surgery. None of the 41 patients had documented abnormal labia; however, 6 patients had asymmetry, and 3 had a labial width of >5 cm. Of mothers, 24% (n = 10) raised the initial concern regarding labial appearance to a physician, of whom, 50% of patients had a comorbid condition. In total, 70.7% initially reported interference with daily activities, and 87.8% were reassured following discussion.

Conclusions

With appropriate education and counselling, the majority of girls with concerns regarding labial appearance can be managed without surgery. Overall, our data support current international policy that female cosmetic genital surgery not be performed in mature minors unless there are specific indications. More research about characteristics of patients referred with labial concerns, definition of labial size and long‐term satisfaction of conservative versus surgical methods is necessary to determine the best approach.
Surgery and magnetic resonance imaging increase the risk of hypothermia in infants
Authors: Don Paul Joel M , Perkins Elizabeth J , Pereira‐Fantini Prue M , Suka Asha , Farrell Olivia , Gunn Julia K , Rajapaksa Anushi E , Tingay David G
Published: January 2018

Aim

Maintaining normothermia is a tenet of neonatal care. However, neonatal thermal care guidelines applicable to intra‐hospital transport beyond the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and during surgery or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are lacking. The aim of this study is to determine the proportion of infants normothermic (36.5–37.5°C) on return to NICU after management during surgery and MRI, and during standard clinical care in both environments.

Methods

Sixty‐two newborns requiring either surgery in the operating theatre (OT) (n = 41) or an MRI scan (n = 21) at the Royal Children’s Hospital (Melbourne) NICU were prospectively studied. Core temperature, along with cardiorespiratory parameters, was continuously measured from 15 min prior to leaving the NICU until 60 min after returning. Passive and active warming (intra‐operatively) was at clinician discretion.

Results

The study reported 90% of infants were normothermic before leaving NICU: 86% (MRI) and 93% (OT). Only 52% of infants were normothermic on return to NICU (relative risk (RR) 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39–2.31; number needed to harm (NNH) 2.6). Between departure from the NICU and commencement of surgery, core temperature decreased by mean 0.81°C (95% CI 0.30–1.33; P = 0.0001, analysis of variance), with only 24% of infants normothermic when surgery began (P < 0.0001; RR 3.80 (95% CI 2.33–6.74); NNH 1.5). After an MRI, infants were a mean 0.41°C (95% CI 0.16–0.67) colder than immediately before entering the scanner (P = 0.001, analysis of variance), with only 43% being normothermic (P = 0.003; RR 2.11 (95% CI 1.35–3.74); NNH 2.1).

Conclusion

Unintentional hypothermia is a common occurrence during surgery in the OT and MRI in neonates, indicating that evidence‐based warming strategies to prevent hypothermia should be developed.
Does Trust Influence Social Expenditures? Evidence from Local Governments
Authors: Camussi Silvia , Mancini Anna Laura , Tommasino Pietro
Published: January 2018

We document that trust has a positive impact on the generosity of welfare spending. Our analysis relies on a unique dataset including detailed budgetary data of more than 2,000 Italian municipalities. Compared with previous contributions based on cross‐country data, our approach reduces the risk of omitted variable bias and measurement errors. Furthermore, drawing on Italy's rich political history, we are able to use an instrumental variables strategy that addresses the possible endogeneity of trust.
Migration, Diasporas and Culture: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Collier Paul , Hoeffler Anke
Published: January 2018

Using a gravity model, we examine the dynamics of migration from developing to OECD countries. Origin and destination countries are characterized by substantial differences in incomes, political rights and cultures. Incentives as well as costs shape the decision to migrate. One powerful dynamic effect is that diasporas increase migration, mainly because they lower the cost of migration. Diasporas assist the next wave of migrants by overcoming the high cost of the emigration, in particular when the origin country is far away and poor. The interaction between the diaspora and cultural distance is also significant. Diasporas in culturally distant countries appear to be particularly useful in overcoming the cost of migration. We interpret this as evidence that culturally distant diasporas are less likely to integrate and maintain closer links with their country of origin, while diasporas from culturally similar countries are more likely to integrate and thus be less useful to potential new migrants.
‘We're Learning a Lot of New Words’: Encountering New L2 Vocabulary Outside of Class
Authors: ESKILDSEN SØREN WIND
Published: January 2018

This article presents empirical evidence that the Interaction Hypothesis (Long, 1996), especially key concepts in Negotiation for Meaning, bears little relevance for language learning outside of class (‘in the wild,’ cf. Hellermann, Eskildsen, et al., 2018; Wagner, ) but seems to be epiphenomenal to experimentally elicited data. Instead, the article shows that the learning, vis à vis negotiation for meaning, that takes place in the wild needs to be viewed as repair practices, as it investigates speakers’ displays of (non)understanding and learning as fundamentally social processes that take place as observable phenomena in real‐time interaction and ultimately sustain the accountable processes of reaching and maintaining intersubjectivity (Kasper, 2009; Koschmann, 2011, 2013). This moment‐to‐moment co‐constructed interactional work of second language (L2) users and their co‐participants is brought to bear on long‐term L2 learning in the wild as I explore and document the long‐term repercussions of situated word searches through the lens of Conversation Analysis. Finally, the paper will discuss ways to use students’ everyday interactions in L2 teaching (Eskildsen & Wagner, 2015b; Piirainen–Marsh & Lilja, 2018).
Instructed Vision: Navigating Grammatical Rules by Using Landmarks for Linguistic Structures in Corrective Feedback Sequences
Authors: MAJLESI ALI REZA
Published: January 2018

This study aims to show how multimodality, that is, the mobilization of various communicative resources in social actions (Mondada, 2016), can be used to teach grammar. Drawing on ethnomethodological conversation analysis (Sacks, 1992), the article provides a detailed analysis of 2 corrective feedback sequences in a Swedish‐as‐a‐second‐language classroom. It shows that teaching grammar using corrective feedback sequences is a collaborative activity between teachers and students, which requires both verbal and other embodied practices. Specifically, it demonstrates how the teachers made grammatical constructs visible, noticeable, and thus learnable through the use of multiple resources such as annotating and illustrating on a whiteboard or projection screen, using concrete meta‐talk (Storch, 2008), together with nonverbal actions such as gesturing. The article argues that the practice of marking a linguistic structure through multiple resources creates ‘landmarks’ for teaching purposes. These landmarks were used (a) for an instructed vision through which the intelligibility of abstract grammatical concepts and relations as cognitive phenomena is constituted by a concrete set of observable and reportable actions, and (b) as prompts in organizing knowledge not only for the purpose of the current activity of teaching but also for future occasions.
Leptosphaeria maculans AvrLm9: a new player in the game of hide and seek with AvrLm4‐7
Authors: Ghanbarnia Kaveh , Ma Lisong , Larkan Nicholas J. , Haddadi Parham , Fernando Wannakuwattewaduge Gerard Dilantha , Borhan Mohammad Hossein
Published: January 2018

Blackleg disease of Brassica napus caused by Leptosphaeria maculans (Lm) is largely controlled by the deployment of race‐specific resistance (R) genes. However, selection pressure exerted by R genes causes Lm to adapt and give rise to new virulent strains through mutation and deletion of effector genes. Therefore, a knowledge of effector gene function is necessary for the effective management of the disease. Here, we report the cloning of Lm effector AvrLm9 which is recognized by the resistance gene Rlm9 in B. napus cultivar Goéland. AvrLm9 was mapped to scaffold 7 of the Lm genome, co‐segregating with the previously reported AvrLm5 (previously known as AvrLmJ1). Comparison of AvrLm5 alleles amongst the 37 re‐sequenced Lm isolates and transgenic complementation identified a single point mutation correlating with the AvrLm9 phenotype. Therefore, we renamed this gene as AvrLm5‐9 to reflect the dual specificity of this locus. Avrlm5‐9 transgenic isolates were avirulent when inoculated on the B. napus cultivar Goéland. The expression of AvrLm5‐9 during infection was monitored by RNA sequencing. The recognition of AvrLm5‐9 by Rlm9 is masked in the presence of AvrLm4‐7, another Lm effector. AvrLm5‐9 and AvrLm4‐7 do not interact, and AvrLm5‐9 is expressed in the presence of AvrLm4‐7. AvrLm5‐9 is the second Lm effector for which host recognition is masked by AvrLm4‐7. An understanding of this complex interaction will provide new opportunities for the engineering of broad‐spectrum recognition.
Alexander von Humboldts Pico del Teide‐Aufstieg als mediale Selbstinszenierung um 1800
Authors: Strobl Michael
Published: January 2018

Die Studie analysiert Strategien der Selbstinszenierung in frühen Publikationen Alexander von Humboldts, die um 1800 in Form von für die Veröffentlichung bestimmten Briefen zu Beginn seiner Amerikareise erschienen sind. Humboldt platziert sie in einem halben Dutzend deutscher und französischer Wissenschafts‐ und Publikumszeitschriften. Die Abreise, die Besteigung des Pico del Teide und die Ankunft in den Tropen konnten in Europa weithin und zeitnah rezipiert werden. Der Teide‐Aufstieg, als vorläufiger Höhepunkt der Mikro‐Reiseerzählung, wird als Initiationsort von Humboldts Wissenschaftsprogrammatik stilisiert. Lange vor Abschluss der Reise und allen seinen Buchveröffentlichungen etabliert Humboldt in diesen kleinen, aber wirkmächtigen Veröffentlichungen erfolgreich das Selbstbild des innovativen, wissenschaftlich‐ästhetisch beschreibenden Reiseabenteurers.

Vergleichstext ist Saussures Darstellung seiner Montblanc‐Besteigung. Zusätzlich werden die Briefveröffentlichungen durch den Vergleich mit Humboldts späteren Beschreibungen des Teide‐Aufstiegs in der Relation historique (1814–1831) und im Kosmos (ab 1845) kontextualisiert, die deutlich entheroisiert‟ sind. Die zeitgenössisch erschienene Beschreibung seines viel berühmteren Aufstiegs auf den Chimborazo (1802) ist ebenso geeignet, die rhetorische und ästhetische Gestaltung der frühen Teide‐Briefe kontrastiv herauszustellen.
Cytokines in Heart Failure: Pathogenetic Mechanisms and Potential Treatment
Authors: Dibbs Ziad , Kurrelmeyer Karla , Kalra Dinesh , Seta Yukihiro , Wang Feng , Bozkurt Biykem , Baumgarten George , Sivasubramanian Natarajan , Mann Douglas L.
Published: January 2018

Recent studies have shown that patients with heart failure overexpress a class of biologically active molecules, generically referred to as pro‐inflammatory cytokines. This article will review recent clinical and experimental material that suggests that pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐a (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) may play a role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure. In addition, we will review recent studies that suggest that antagonizing cytokines may represent a novel target for heart failure therapy.
Effects of Cutaneous Aspirin on the Human Stomach and Duodenum
Authors: Cryer Byron , Kliewer Douglas , Sie Hubert , McAllister Libby , Feldman Mark
Published: January 2018

Oral aspirin blocks cyclooxygenase in platelets, lowering serum thromboxane concentrations. Oral aspirin also blocks cyclooxygenase in the gastrointestinal mucosa, lowering prostaglandin production and increasing the risk of gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding. Aspirin placed on the skin also inhibits cyclooxygenase in platelets, but aspirin absorption through skin is slow, which may minimize the gastrointestinal effects. Our objectives in this study were 1) to compare the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of cutaneous and oral aspirin in healthy volunteers and 2) to compare the effects of cutaneous aspirin on gastroduodenal mucosal prostaglandin E2 and F2α content and on mucosal damage, using endoscopy. The bioavailability of cutaneous aspirin was 4%–8% that of oral aspirin. Cutaneous aspirin (750 mg/day for 10 days) significantly lowered serum thromboxane (by 85%) and gastric and duodenal prostaglandins (by 49%–71%); placebo had no effect. Moreover, cutaneous aspirin, but not placebo, resulted in significant gastric mucosal injury. These findings demonstrate that even tiny amounts of aspirin in the blood (2 µM) have inhibitory effects on prostaglandin production in the human stomach and duodenum that result in gastric mucosal damage, even without direct exposure of the stomach to aspirin.
THE VIETNAM ANTIWAR MOVEMENT IN NEW ZEALAND
Authors: Rabel Roberto G.
Published: January 2018

New Zealand was one of two Western democracies to send combat forces to support the United States in the Vietnam conflict. Many of the divisions that the war precipitated in American society also arose in New Zealand, leading to the collapse of a domestic consensus on foreign policy and the rise of a vocal antiwar movement. New Zealand opponents of that conflict were influenced by the American antiwar movement in their style of protest and in their critique of the general Cold War assumptions on which Western intervention was based. But New Zealand critics of involvement in Vietnam were more successful in seizing the nationalistic high ground in the debate over the war. In so doing, they legitimized criticism of the country's alliance with the United States and popularized the quest for a more “independent” foreign policy—a quest most recently embodied in New Zealand's domestically popular antinuclear policies.
THE SOAR AND SLUMP OF POLITE PROTEST
Authors: Lofland John
Published: January 2018

Surges of citizen activism exhibit a rapid and dramatic “soar and slump” dynamic that analysts have tended to depict, using analogies to organisms, as life‐history trajectories or stages. But, because citizen surges are collective actions rather than biological entities, a more social model, such as that of a tenuously ratcheted and enlarging or contracting interaction spiral, may be more accurate. This alternative approach is elaborated in terms of the nine major actors who are contesting in the rush of focusing and facilitative or inhibitive conditions and events, and it is applied to the initiating interaction spiral of the U.S. peace surge of the early 1980s. Drawing from those data and the social movements literature more generally, the author proposes six principles of first‐phase facilitation or “ratcheting”: supportive milieu, unengaged resources, the Darwinian parade of proposers, the striking proposer, the dramatic demonstration of feasibility, and the feasible‐timely proposal.
MARKING AND BINDING
Authors: MacQueen Graeme
Published: January 2018

Political bloodpouring, in the context of nonviolent direct action, can be interpreted as an act of redefinition of social reality. Participants, by a process of “marking,” set themselves against one set of things, and at the same time, by a process of “binding,” they identify themselves with a different set of things. Blood can serve these two different functions in one and the same political action. The set of things from which activists distinguish themselves is in this article called structure, and the set of things with which they identify is called antistructure (or communitas), these terms being taken from the work of the anthropologist, Victor Turner. The article stresses the importance of symbolic action and its connectedness with struggle for social change in concrete historical situations.
THE 1989 CHINESE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Authors: Smith Jackie
Published: January 2018

The 1989 Chinese student movement holds many lessons regarding the use of nonviolent action as a mechanism for social change. Basic factors that contributed to the progression and outcomes of the movement were the structure of political opportunities, student organization, and protest tactics. Drawing primarily from Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Reports — China from April, May, and early June of 1989, the author has analyzed the events surrounding the student movement in order to gain insights into the dynamics of nonviolent social protest. Should the Chinese case be used as an example of the ineffectiveness of nonviolent action in the face of a regime willing to counter with military might? Might different actions on the part of student activists have led to a more favorable outcome? These questions are explored in attempting to understand better the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of nonviolent action for social change.
Preferential cholinergic excitation of corticopontine neurons
Authors: Baker Arielle L. , O'Toole Ryan J. , Gulledge Allan T.
Published: January 2018

Key points

Phasic activation of M1 muscarinic receptors generates transient inhibition followed by longer lasting excitation in neocortical pyramidal neurons.

Corticopontine neurons in the mouse prefrontal cortex exhibit weaker cholinergic inhibition, but more robust and longer lasting excitation, than neighbouring callosal projection neurons.

Optogenetic release of endogenous ACh in response to single flashes of light (5 ms) preferentially enhances the excitability of corticopontine neurons for many tens of seconds.

Cholinergic excitation of corticopontine neurons involves at least three ionic mechanisms: suppression of KV7 currents, activation of the calcium‐dependent non‐specific cation conductance underlying afterdepolarizations, and activation of what appears to be a calcium‐sensitive but calcium‐permeable non‐specific cation conductance.

Preferential cholinergic excitation of prefrontal corticopontine neurons may facilitate top‐down attentional processes and behaviours.

Pyramidal neurons in layer 5 of the neocortex comprise two broad classes of projection neurons: corticofugal neurons, including corticopontine (CPn) neurons, and intratelencephalic neurons, including commissural/callosal (COM) neurons. These non‐overlapping neuron subpopulations represent discrete cortical output channels contributing to perception, decision making and behaviour. CPn and COM neurons have distinct morphological and physiological characteristics, and divergent responses to modulatory transmitters such as serotonin and acetylcholine (ACh). To better understand how ACh regulates cortical output, in slices of mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) we compared the responsivity of CPn and COM neurons to transient exposure to exogenous or endogenous ACh. In both neuron subtypes, exogenous ACh generated qualitatively similar biphasic responses in which brief hyperpolarization was followed by longer lasting enhancement of excitability. However, cholinergic inhibition was more pronounced in COM neurons, while excitatory responses were larger and longer lasting in CPn neurons. Similarly, optically triggered release of endogenous ACh from cholinergic terminals preferentially and persistently (for ∼40 s) enhanced the excitability of CPn neurons, but had little impact on COM neurons. Cholinergic excitation of CPn neurons involved at least three distinct ionic mechanisms: suppression of KV7 channels (the ‘M‐current’), activation of the calcium‐dependent non‐specific cation conductance underlying afterdepolarizations, and activation of what appears to be a calcium‐sensitive but calcium‐permeable non‐specific cation conductance. Our findings demonstrate projection‐specific selectivity in cholinergic signalling in the PFC, and suggest that transient release of ACh during behaviour will preferentially promote corticofugal output.
Enhancing the Plant's Capability for Design Basis and Design Extension Conditions Based on Time-Dependent Context Evaluation of Human Performance in ATWS Events
Authors: Petkov Gueorgui I.
Published: January 2018

The experience of severe accidents shows that reliable determination of technological process parameters is necessary but not always sufficient to avoid catastrophic consequences. The accident measures should be considered in a broader context that includes the human factor, organization of the nuclear technology, external influences, and safety culture. The anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) events were not considered in the original water water energy reactor (WWER) (Russian pressurized water reactors (PWR)) design basis accidents (DBA). The design extension conditions (DEC) scenarios progress in a context which is very uncertain and highly stressful for the operators. If a specific scenario requires some operators' actions as measures to mitigate, delay, or distribute the accident consequences, then the dynamics of accident context seem of primary importance for “best estimate” evaluations and enhancing the plant's capability. The paper presents the capacities of the performance evaluation of teamwork (PET) procedure for enhancing plant's capability for DEC based on best estimate context evaluation of human performance in ATWS events. The PET procedure is based on a thorough description of symptoms of various timelines and their context quantification. It is exemplified for different ATWS scenarios of the nuclear power plant (NPP) with WWER-1000 based on thermal-hydraulic simulations with RELAP5/MOD3.2 code and models.
Branch Reconfiguration of Bricard Linkages Based on Toroids Intersections: Plane-Symmetric Case
Authors: López-Custodio P. C. , Dai J. S. , Rico J. M.
Published: January 2018

This paper for the first time reveals a set of special plane-symmetric Bricard linkages with various branches of reconfiguration by means of intersection of two generating toroids, and presents a complete theory of the branch reconfiguration of the Bricard plane-symmetric linkages. An analysis of the intersection of these two toroids reveals the presence of coincident conical singularities, which lead to design of the plane-symmetric linkages that evolve to spherical 4R linkages. By examining the tangents to the curves of intersection at the conical singularities, it is found that the linkage can be reconfigured between the two possible branches of spherical 4R motion without disassembling it and without requiring the usual special configuration connecting the branches. The study of tangent intersections between concentric singular toroids also reveals the presence of isolated points in the intersection, which suggests that some linkages satisfying the Bricard plane-symmetry conditions are actually structures with zero finite degrees-of-freedom (DOF) but with higher instantaneous mobility. This paper is the second part of a paper published in parallel by the authors in which the method is applied to the line-symmetric case.
Kinematic Model of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism With Run-Out and Position Errors
Authors: Fu Xiaojun , Liu Geng , Ma Shangjun , Tong Ruiting , Lim Teik C.
Published: January 2018

A kinematic model of the planetary roller screw mechanism (PRSM) is proposed, which accounts for the run-out errors of the screw, roller, nut, ring gear, and carrier, and the position errors of the nut and the pinhole in the carrier. The roller floating region, which contains all the possible positions of the roller inside the pinhole, is obtained by analyzing the axial clearances between mating thread surfaces and the radial clearance between the roller and carrier. The proposed model is based on the constraint that the set of roller floating region is not empty. Then, the additional rigid-body movement on the nut is derived and the path of motion transfer from the screw to the nut is obtained. According to the fundamental property of rigid-body kinematics, the axial velocity of the nut is derived and the transmission error of the PRSM is calculated. The proposed model is verified by comparing the calculated transmission error with experimental one. The results show that the transmission error of the PRSM with run-out and position errors is cyclic with a period corresponding to the rotation period of the screw and the magnitude of the transmission error can be much larger than the lead error of the screw. Besides, due to the run-out and position errors, the roller can move radially or transversally inside the pinhole of the carrier when the elements in the PRSM are regarded as rigid bodies.
Jet Impingement Heat Transfer in Narrow Channels With Different Pin Fin Configurations on Target Surfaces
Authors: Rao Yu
Published: January 2018

A comparative experimental and numerical study has been done on multiple-jet impingement heat transfer in narrow channels with different pin fin configurations on the target surfaces. Three different target plates including a flat plate, a plate with full-height pin fins, and another plate with miniature pin fins are investigated in the jet impingement cooling systems comparatively. The experiments were done under maximum cross flow scheme for the jet Reynolds numbers from 15,000 to 30,000. Narrow jet impingement spacing is kept the same as 1.5 times jet diameter for all the target plates. In the experiments, detailed jet impingement heat transfer characteristics on the flat plate and the full-height pin-fin plate were obtained by using the transient liquid crystal thermography technique, and additionally steady experiments were done to obtain the overall heat transfer performance of the jet impingement systems with all the three different target plates, which accounts for the heat transfer contribution from the pin fins' surface. Significant overall jet impingement heat transfer enhancement can be obtained with full-height pin-fin roughened surfaces with appreciable pressure loss; however, with miniature pin fins on the target plate, the jet impingement overall heat transfer performance can be remarkably improved with negligible pressure loss penalty. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was done to analyze the detailed flow structure and heat transfer characteristics in the jet impingement systems with different pin fin configurations.
Energetic and Exergetic Performance of a Solar Flat-Plate Collector Working With Cu Nanofluid
Authors: Shamshirgaran SeyedReza , Khalaji Assadi Morteza , Al-Kayiem Hussain H. , Viswanatha Sharma Korada
Published: January 2018

The evaluation of the performance and characteristics of a solar flat-plate collector (FPC) are reported for domestic and industrial requirements in the existing literature. A computer code was developed using matlab to model and evaluate the energetic and exergetic performance of a nanofluid-based FPC for steady-state and laminar conditions. The analysis was performed using practical geometry data, especially the absorber emittance, for a standard collector. Linear pressure losses in manifolds were taken into account, and a more accurate exergy factor corresponding to a correct value of 5770 K for the sun temperature was employed. The results demonstrate that copper–water nanofluid has the potential to augment the internal convection heat transfer coefficient by 76.5%, and to enhance the energetic efficiency of the collector from 70.3% to 72.1% at 4% volume concentration, when compared to the values with water. Additionally, it was revealed that copper nanofluid is capable of increasing the collector fluid's outlet temperature and decreasing the absorber plate's mean temperature by 3 K. The addition of nanoparticles to the water demonstrated a reduction in the total entropy generation by the solar FPC. Furthermore, increasing the nanoparticle size reflected a reduction in the overall performance of the solar collector.
Experimentally Validated Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Data Center With Active Tiles
Authors: Athavale Jayati , Joshi Yogendra , Yoda Minami
Published: January 2018

This paper presents an experimentally validated room-level computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for raised-floor data center configurations employing active tiles. Active tiles are perforated floor tiles with integrated fans, which increase the local volume flow rate by redistributing the cold air supplied by the computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit to the under-floor plenum. The numerical model of the data center room consists of one cold aisle with 12 racks arranged on both sides and three CRAC units sited around the periphery of the room. The commercial CFD software package futurefacilities6sigmadcx is used to develop the model for three configurations: (a) an aisle populated with ten (i.e., all) passive tiles; (b) a single active tile and nine passive tiles in the cold aisle; and (c) an aisle populated with all active tiles. The predictions from the CFD model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data, with an average discrepancy between the measured and computed values for total flow rate and rack inlet temperature less than 4% and 1.7 °C, respectively. The validated models were then used to simulate steady-state and transient scenarios following cooling failure. This physics-based and experimentally validated room-level model can be used for temperature and flow distributions prediction and identifying optimal number and locations of active tiles for hot spot mitigation in data centers.
Inverse Conduction Heat Transfer and Kriging Interpolation Applied to Temperature Sensor Location in Microchips
Authors: Gonzalez Cuadrado David , Marconnet Amy , Paniagua Guillermo
Published: January 2018

Large thermal gradients represent major operational hazards in microprocessors; hence, there is a critical need to monitor possible hot spots both accurately and in real time. Thermal monitoring in microprocessors is typically performed using temperature sensors embedded in the electronic board. The location of the temperature sensors is primarily determined by the sensor space claim rather than the ideal location for thermal management. This paper presents an optimization methodology to determine the most beneficial locations for the temperature sensors inside of the microprocessors, based on input from high-resolution surface infrared thermography combined with inverse heat transfer solvers to predict hot spot locations. Specifically, the infrared image is used to obtain the temperature map over the processor surface, and subsequently delivers the input to a three-dimensional (3D) inverse heat conduction methodology, used to determine the temperature field within the processor. In this paper, simulated thermal maps are utilized to assess the accuracy of this method. The inverse methodology is based on a function specification method combined with a sequential regularization in order to increase accuracy in the results. Together with the number of sensors, the temperature field within the processor is then used to determine the optimal location of the temperature sensors using a genetic algorithm optimization combined with a Kriging interpolation. This combination of methodologies was validated against the finite element analysis of a chip incorporating heaters and temperature sensors. An uncertainty analysis of the inverse methodology and the Kriging interpolation was performed separately to assess the reliability of the procedure.
Impact of Tile Design on the Thermal Performance of Open and Enclosed Aisles
Authors: Khalili Sadegh , Tradat Mohammad I. , Nemati Kourosh , Seymour Mark , Sammakia Bahgat
Published: January 2018

In raised floor data centers, tiles with high open area ratio or complex understructure are used to fulfill the demand of today's high-density computing. Using more open tiles reduces the pressure drop across the raised floor with the potential advantages of increased airflow and lower noise. However, it introduces the disadvantage of increased nonuniformity of airflow distribution. In addition, there are various tile designs available on the market with different opening shapes or understructures. Furthermore, a physical separation of cold and hot aisles (containment) has been introduced to minimize the mixing of cold and hot air. In this study, three types of floor tiles with different open area, opening geometry, and understructure are considered. Experimentally validated detail models of tiles were implemented in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to address the impact of tile design on the cooling of information technology (IT) equipment in both open and enclosed aisle configurations. Also, impacts of under-cabinet leakage on the IT equipment inlet temperature in the provisioned and under-provisioned scenarios are studied. In addition, a predictive equation for the critical under-provisioning point that can lead to a no-flow condition in IT equipment with weaker airflow systems is presented. Finally, the impact of tile design on thermal performance in a partially enclosed aisle with entrance doors is studied and discussed.
Membrane insertion of—and membrane potential sensing by—semiconductor voltage nanosensors: Feasibility demonstration
Authors: Park Kyoungwon , Kuo Yung , Shvadchak Volodymyr , Ingargiola Antonino , Dai Xinghong , Hsiung Lawrence , Kim Wookyeom , Zhou Z. Hong , Zou Peng , Levine Alex J. , Li Jack , Weiss Shimon
Published: January 2018

Can semiconductor voltage nanosensors record neuronal signals?
Stable organic thin-film transistors
Authors: Jia Xiaojia , Fuentes-Hernandez Canek , Wang Cheng-Yin , Park Youngrak , Kippelen Bernard
Published: January 2018

Organic thin-film transistors exhibit an unprecedented level of reliability, bringing them closer to commercialization.
Highly mobile charge-transfer excitons in two-dimensional WS
2
/tetracene heterostructures
Authors: Zhu Tong , Yuan Long , Zhao Yan , Zhou Mingwei , Wan Yan , Mei Jianguo , Huang Libai
Published: January 2018

Ultrafast microscopy reveals mobile charge-transfer excitons at two-dimensional organic-inorganic interfaces.
Emergence of Kondo lattice behavior in a van der Waals itinerant ferromagnet, Fe
3
GeTe
2
Authors: Zhang Yun , Lu Haiyan , Zhu Xiegang , Tan Shiyong , Feng Wei , Liu Qin , Zhang Wen , Chen Qiuyun , Liu Yi , Luo Xuebing , Xie Donghua , Luo Lizhu , Zhang Zhengjun , Lai Xinchun
Published: January 2018

Ferromagnetism and the Kondo effect are crucial for 3d electrons to become spin-separated and heavy at the same time.
Production of BMP4 by endothelial cells is crucial for endogenous thymic regeneration
Authors: Wertheimer Tobias , Velardi Enrico , Tsai Jennifer , Cooper Kirsten , Xiao Shiyun , Kloss Christopher C. , Ottmüller Katja J. , Mokhtari Zeinab , Brede Christian , deRoos Paul , Kinsella Sinéad , Palikuqi Brisa , Ginsberg Michael , Young Lauren F. , Kreines Fabiana , Lieberman Sophia R. , Lazrak Amina , Guo Peipei , Malard Florent , Smith Odette M. , Shono Yusuke , Jenq Robert R. , Hanash Alan M. , Nolan Daniel J. , Butler Jason M. , Beilhack Andreas , Manley Nancy R. , Rafii Shahin , Dudakov Jarrod A. , van den Brink Marcel R. M.
Published: January 2018

BMP4 produced by endothelial cells promotes thymic regeneration after acute damage by activating FOXN1 and its downstream targets.
Effectiveness of interventions for reducing non-occupational sedentary behaviour in adults and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shrestha Nipun , Grgic Jozo , Wiesner Glen , Parker Alexandra , Podnar Hrvoje , Bennie Jason A , Biddle Stuart J H , Pedisic Zeljko
Published: January 2018

Background

No systematic reviews of the effectiveness of interventions for reducing non-occupational sedentary behaviour are available. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of interventions for reducing non-occupational sedentary behaviour in adults and older adults.

Methods

An electronic search of nine databases was performed. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and cluster RCTs among adults testing the effectiveness of interventions aimed to reduce non-occupational sedentary behaviour were considered for inclusion. Two review authors independently screened studies for eligibility, completed data extraction and assessed the risk of bias.

Results

Nineteen studies that evaluated multicomponent lifestyle interventions, counselling or education, television (TV) control devices and workplace interventions were included. Evidence from the meta-analyses suggested that interventions can reduce leisure sitting time in adults in the medium term (−30 min/day; 95% CI −58 to –2), and TV viewing in the short term (−61 min/day; 95% CI −79 to –43) and medium term (−11 min/day; 95% CI −20 to –2). No significant pooled effects were found for transport sitting time, leisure-time computer use and longer term outcomes. No evidence was available on the effectiveness of interventions for reducing non-occupational sedentary time in older adults.

Conclusions

The findings of this systematic review suggest the interventions may be effective in reducing non-occupational sedentary behaviour in the short to medium term in adults. However, no significant effect was found on longer term outcomes. The quality of evidence was, however, low to very low. No evidence was available on the effectiveness of non-occupational interventions on reducing sedentary time in older adults. Further high-quality research with larger samples is warranted.