Two-Dimensional Sigma-Hole Systems in Boron Layers: A First-Principles Study on Mg_{1-x}Na_xB_2 and Mg_{1-x}Al_xB_2

We study two-dimensional sigma-hole systems in boron layers by calculating the electronic structures of Mg_{1-x}Na_xB_2 and Mg_{1-x}Al_xB_2. In Mg_{1-x}Na_xB_2, it is found that the concentration of sigma holes is approximately described by (0.8 + 0.8 x) * 10^{22} cm^{-3} and the largest attainable concentration is about 1.6 * 10^{22} cm^{-3} in NaB_2. In Mg_{1-x}Al_xB_2, on the other hand, it is found that the concentration of sigma holes is approximately described by (0.8 - 1.4 x) * 10^{22} cm^{-3} and sigma holes are disappeared at x of about 0.6. These relations can be used for experimental studies on the sigma-hole systems in these materials.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Replication for Web Hosting Systems

Replication is a well-known technique to improve the accessibility of Web sites. It generally offers reduced client latencies and increases a site’s availability. However, applying replication techniques is not trivial, and various Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) have been created to facilitate replication for digital content providers. Th

Long‐term care facilities' response to the COVID ‐19 pandemic: An international, cross‐sectional survey

Aims To (i) assess the adherence of long‐term care (LTC) facilities to the COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations, (ii) identify predictors of this adherence and (iii) examine the association between the adherence level and the impact of the pandemic on selected unfavourable conditions. Design Cross‐sectional survey. Methods Managers (n = 212) and staff (n = 2143) of LTC facilities (n = 223) in 13 countries/regions (Brazil, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Turkey) evaluated the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations and the impact of the pandemic on unfavourable conditions related to staff, residents and residents' families. The characteristics of participants and LTC facilities were also gathered. Data were collected from April to October 2021. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines. Results The adherence was significantly higher among facilities with more pre‐pandemic in‐service education on infection control and easier access to information early in the pandemic. Residents' feelings of loneliness and feeling down were the most affected conditions by the pandemic. More psychological support to residents was associated with fewer residents' aggressive behaviours, and more psychological support to staff was associated with less work–life imbalance. Conclusions Pre‐pandemic preparedness significantly shaped LTC facilities' response to the pandemic. Adequate psychological support to residents and staff might help mitigate the negative impacts of infection outbreaks. Impact This is the first study to comprehensively examine the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations. The results demonstrated that the adherence level was significantly related to pre‐pandemic preparedness and that adequate psychological support to staff and residents was significantly associated with less negative impacts of the pandemic on LTC facilities' staff and residents. The results would help LTC facilities prepare for and respond to future infection outbreaks. Patient or public contribution No Patient or Public Contribution

Postnatal development of brainstem serotonin-containing neurons projecting to lumbar spinal cord in rats

Elsevier, Tanaka, Hajime ; Amamiya, Satoshi ; Miura, Nao ; Araki, Akiko ; Ohinata, Junko ; Fujieda, Kenji, Brain & Development, 28(9), 2006, 586-591. authorWe quantified postnatal changes in brainstem serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT)-containing neurons projecting to lumbar spinal cord. The medulla-spinal cord descending neurons were identified by a retrograde neurotracer, choleratoxin B subunit (CTb), and 5-HT neurons were stained by immunohistochemistry. Double-labeled neurons were assumed to be 5-HT neurons projecting to the lumbar spinal cord, and were quantitatively analyzed in each raphe nucleus in the medulla. The following results were obtained: (1) At PND 3, numerous CTb-labeled neurons (CTLN) were already present in the raphe pallidus (B1), while few CTLN were seen in raphe obscurus (B2) and raphe magnus (B3). CTLN then rapidly increased in number and were separately distributed after PND 7 in B3 and after PND 14 in B2. (2) At PND 3, numerous 5-HT-containing neurons were already present in B1–B3, with 23.4% and 14.0% of them labeled with CTb in B1 and B2, respectively, while there were few double-labeled neurons in B3. From PND 3 to 28, although the proportion of double-labeled to 5-HT neurons remained unchanged in B1 and B2, that in B3 rapidly increased from 5.8% at PND 7 to 28.8% at PND 14. Previous studies have shown that the 5-HT neurons in B3 send fibers mainly to the dorsal horn, while those in B1 and B2 send fibers mainly to the ventral horn at all spinal cord levels. Taken together, the present findings suggest that the brainstem 5-HT systems influence the ventral horn of the spinal cord, where spinal motoneurons exist earlier than in the dorsal horn. The functional significance of these early 5-HT systems in motor development and/or disabilities is discussed

The role of different X-inactivation pattern on the variable clinical phenotype with Rett syndrome

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0387-7604(01)00344-8A gene for Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), which locates Xq28, was recently found to be responsible for Rett syndrome. Although mutational analyses of MECP2 in Rett syndrome have been extensively analyzed, the mechanism(s) by which variable clinical phenotype occurred between affected monozygotic twins or sisters have not been clarified. We hypothesized that the difference of X-inactivation pattern might explain this phenomenon. With the method based on methylation-specific PCR, we analyzed polymorphic trinucleotide repeat in the human andorogen receptor gene mapped on Xq11.2-12, using DNA samples derived from previously described monozygotic twins and sisters together with their parents. Their clinical phenotypes were reported to be significantly different between siblings. We found that (1) maternally derived allele is predominantly active than paternally derived one in three out of four patients analyzed, (2) remaining one twin patient, whose ratio of active paternal allele is almost the same level as maternal allele, showed far much severe phenotype when compared with her counterpart. Together with the finding that most of the alleles with de novo mutation are from paternal X chromosome in sporadic cases, the existence of a mechanism that suppresses mutated paternal allele activation, resulting skewed X-inactivation to make clinical phenotype milder, might be speculated. Thus, when this mechanism fails to work sufficiently by an unknown reason, severer clinical phenotype could occur. Autho

Molecular analysis and anticonvulsant therapy in two patients with glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome : A successful use of zonisamide for controlling the seizures

authorGlucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome is caused by a deficit in glucose transport to the brain during the pre- and postnatal periods. Here we report two cases of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome diagnosed on the basis of clinical features, reduced GLUT1 activities, and mutations in the GLUT1 gene. Patient 1 had a novel heterozygous 1-bp insertion in exon 7 that resulted in a shift of the reading frame and the introduction of a premature stop codon at amino acid position 380. His clinical phenotype appeared to be more severe than that of Patient 2 who had a missense mutation in exon 8 resulting in an arginine-to-tryptophan substitution at amino acid position 333. Patient 1 had no meaningful words and could not walk unassisted, while Patient 2 could speak and walk unassisted. Both the patients developed seizures of various types that have been successfully treated with zonisamide. Although several antiepileptic drugs, including barbiturates, diazepam, chloralhydrate, and valproic acid, have been shown to inhibit GLUT1 function, the present study demonstrated no inhibitory effect of zonisamide on GLUT-1-mediated glucose transport. Our data suggested that zonisamide might be preferable if add-on anticonvulsant therapy is required to control the seizures in patients with this disorder

The role of different X-inactivation pattern on the variable clinical phenotype with Rett syndrome

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=The%20role%20of%20different%20X-inactivation%20pattern%20on%20the%20variable%20clinical%20phenotype%20with%20Rett%20syndrome | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=The%20role%20of%20different%20X-inactivation%20pattern%20on%20the%20variable%20clinical%20phenotype%20with%20Rett%20syndrom