Decreased density of serotonin 2A receptors in the superior temporal gyrus in schizophrenia - a postmortem study

The superior temporal gyrus (STG) is strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia,particularly with regards to auditory hallucinations. In this study, using in situ quantitative autoradiography in postmortem tissue, we investigated the binding of the [3H]ketanserin to 5-HT2A receptors and [3H] mesulergine to 5-HT2C receptors in the left STG of 8 male schizophrenic patients compared to 8 control subjects. A strong [3H]ketanserin binding was observed in the STG, however there was a very weak [3H] mesulergine binding in the STG. A significant decrease in binding of [3H]ketanserin was clearly observed in schizophrenia patients in comparison with control subjects. There were no significant correlations between 5-HT2A binding density and age, postmortem intervals, or brain pH. These results suggest that the alterations of the 5-HT2A receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of the STG in schizophrenia. Furthermore, there is a clear tendency for a positive correlation between 5-HT2A and muscarinic M1 receptor bindings, and for negative correlations between 5-HT2A and GABAA receptor bindings and between muscarinic M1 and GABAA receptor bindings. This provides a possible mechanism of auditory hallucinations through interactions between 5-HT2A, acetylcholine muscarinic and GABA transmissions in the STG in schizophrenia

Active RIS-Assisted MIMO-OFDM System: Analyses and Prototype Measurements

In this study, we develop an active reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted multiple-input multiple-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) prototype compliant with the 5G New Radio standard at 3.5 GHz. The experimental results clearly indicate that active RIS plays a vital role in enhancing MIMO performance, surpassing passive RIS. Furthermore, when considering factors such as complexity, energy consumption, and performance, the comparative evaluation between passive RIS and active RIS reinforces the critical role of active RIS in MIMO systems. These findings underscore the practical significance of active RIS in improving MIMO gain in 5G scenarios.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. This work has been submitted to the IEEE for possible publication. Copyright may be transferred without notice, after which this version may no longer be accessibl

System Verification and Runtime Monitoring with Multiple Weakly-Hard Constraints

A weakly-hard fault model can be captured by an (m,k) constraint, where 0≤ m ≤ k , meaning that there are at most m bad events (faults) among any k consecutive events. In this article, we use a weakly-hard fault model to constrain the occurrences of faults in system inputs. We develop approaches to verify properties for all possible values of (m,k) , where k is smaller than or equal to a given  K , in an exact and efficient manner. By verifying all possible values of (m,k) , we define weakly-hard requirements for the system environment and design a runtime monitor based on counting the number of faults in system inputs. If the system environment satisfies the weakly-hard requirements, then the satisfaction of desired properties is guaranteed; otherwise, the runtime monitor can notify the system to switch to a safe mode. This is especially essential for cyber-physical systems that need to provide guarantees with limited resources and the existence of faults. Experimental results with discrete second-order control, network routing, vehicle following, and lane changing demonstrate the generality and the efficiency of the proposed approaches. </jats:p

MODEL OF CROATIAN SEA PASSENGER PORTS MANAGEMENT RATIONALIZATION

Predmet istraživanja u ovome znanstvenom radu je razvitak pomorskoputničkih luka u Republici Hrvatskoj do 2012. godine. Za definiranje svojstava i determinanti pomorskoputničkih luka koristilo se modelom na bazi matrice rasta. Analiza i vrednovanje pojedinih elemenata modela i dobivene izravne stope rasta imale su za cilj znanstveno formulirati rezultate istraživanja, prema najvažnijim teorijskim zakonitostima razvitka pomorskoputničkih luka u Republici Hrvatskoj. Autori su se u znanstvenom istraživanju i prezentiranju rezultata istraživanja ovog rada služili kombinaciju znanstvenih metoda kao što su: metoda analize i sinteze, metoda konkretizacije, komparativna metoda i metoda modeliranja (matrica rasta). Glavna znanstvena hipoteza dokazana je izravnim stopama rasta odabranih elemenata modela a ona glasi: Znanstveno utemeljenim spoznajama o funkcioniranju i poslovanju sustava pomorskoputničkih luka moguće je predložiti model, mjere i aktivnosti za racionalno upravljanje tim lukama kako bi se osigurao rast i razvoj sustava pomorskoputničkih luka.This paper analyses the sustainable development of sea passenger ports in the Republic of Croatia until 2012. A model of growth was used in order to define the main characteristics and determinants of sea passenger ports. The purpose of the paper was to present a scientifically-based formulation of sustainable development analysis of sea passenger ports in Croatia, based on the evaluation and analysis of relevant elements and resulting direct rates. The authors in their scientific research and presentation used a various combination of scientific methods like: analysis and syntheses method, concretization method, comparative method and modeling method (growth matrix). The main scientific hypothesis is: By using scientifically based acknowledgments about functioning and management of sea passenger port system it is possible to suggest a model, measurements and activities for the rational management of sea passenger ports in Croatia in order to secure their growth and development. This scientific hypothesis was confirmed by the direct rates of growth of the model elements

RsmW, Pseudomonas aeruginosa small non-coding RsmA-binding RNA upregulated in biofilm versus planktonic growth conditions

BACKGROUND: Biofilm development, specifically the fundamentally adaptive switch from acute to chronic infection phenotypes, requires global regulators and small non-coding regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). This work utilized RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to detect sRNAs differentially expressed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm versus planktonic state. RESULTS: A computational algorithm was devised to detect and categorize sRNAs into 5 types: intergenic, intragenic, 5′-UTR, 3′-UTR, and antisense. Here we report a novel RsmY/RsmZ-type sRNA, termed RsmW, in P. aeruginosa up-transcribed in biofilm versus planktonic growth. RNA-Seq, 5’-RACE and Mfold predictions suggest RsmW has a secondary structure with 3 of 7 GGA motifs located on outer stem loops. Northern blot revealed two RsmW binding bands of 400 and 120 bases, suggesting RsmW is derived from the 3’-UTR of the upstream hypothetical gene, PA4570. RsmW expression is elevated in late stationary versus logarithmic growth phase in PB minimal media, at higher temperatures (37°C versus 28°C), and in both gacA and rhlR transposon mutants versus wild-type. RsmW specifically binds to RsmA protein in vitro and restores biofilm production and reduces swarming in an rsmY/rsmZ double mutant. PA4570 weakly resembles an RsmA/RsmN homolog having 49% and 51% similarity, and 16% and 17% identity to RsmA and RsmN amino acid sequences, respectively. PA4570 was unable to restore biofilm and swarming phenotypes in ΔrsmA deficient strains. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our study reveals an interesting theme regarding another sRNA regulator of the Rsm system and further unravels the complexities regulating adaptive responses for Pseudomonas species

The ABC130 barrel module prototyping programme for the ATLAS strip tracker

For the Phase-II Upgrade of the ATLAS Detector, its Inner Detector, consisting of silicon pixel, silicon strip and transition radiation sub-detectors, will be replaced with an all new 100 % silicon tracker, composed of a pixel tracker at inner radii and a strip tracker at outer radii. The future ATLAS strip tracker will include 11,000 silicon sensor modules in the central region (barrel) and 7,000 modules in the forward region (end-caps), which are foreseen to be constructed over a period of 3.5 years. The construction of each module consists of a series of assembly and quality control steps, which were engineered to be identical for all production sites. In order to develop the tooling and procedures for assembly and testing of these modules, two series of major prototyping programs were conducted: an early program using readout chips designed using a 250 nm fabrication process (ABCN-25) and a subsequent program using a follow-up chip set made using 130 nm processing (ABC130 and HCC130 chips). This second generation of readout chips was used for an extensive prototyping program that produced around 100 barrel-type modules and contributed significantly to the development of the final module layout. This paper gives an overview of the components used in ABC130 barrel modules, their assembly procedure and findings resulting from their tests.Comment: 82 pages, 66 figure