J.A. Motha, M. Dilshad and R. Bateman.

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Date:199

Spontaneous K-Complex Density in Slow-Wave Sleep.

To study spontaneous K-complex (KC) densities during slow-wave sleep. The secondary objective was to estimate intra-non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep differences in KC density.It is a retrospective study using EEG data included in polysomnographic records from the archive at the sleep research laboratory of the Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, India. The EEG records of 4459 minutes were used. The study presents a manual identification investigation of KCs in 17 healthy young adult male volunteers (age = 23.82±3.40 years and BMI = 23.42±4.18 kg/m2).N3 had a higher KC density than N2 (Z = -2.485, p = 0.013) for all of the probes taken together. Four EEG probes had a higher probe-specific KC density during N3. The inter-probe KC density differed significantly during N2 (χ2 = 67.91, p < .001), N3 (χ2 = 70.62, p < .001) and NREM (χ2 = 68.50, p < .001). The percent distribution of KC decreased uniformly with sleep cycles.The inter-probe differences during N3 establish the fronto-central dominance of the KC density regardless of sleep stage. This finding supports one local theory of KC generation. The significantly higher KC density during N3 may imply that the neuro-anatomical origin of slow-wave activity and KC is the same. This temporal alignment with slow-wave activity supports the sleep-promoting function of the KC

Differential expression and interaction of melatonin and thyroid hormone receptors with estrogen receptor α improve ovarian functions in letrozole-induced rat polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of melatonin and L-thyroxine (T4) on the expression of various receptors, and some metabolic, reproductive, and gonadotropic hormones in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rats. - Material and methods: Assessment of gravimetric, hormonal profile and thyroid histology and relative expression of melatonin receptors (MT1, MT2) and estrogen receptor α (Erα) in thyroid and ovary, and type II iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio2) and thyroid hormone receptor α (TRα) in the ovary were performed using standard protocols. - Key findings: A significant increase in thyroid follicles numbers was noted in the hyperthyroid rat. T4 treatment to PCOS showed the expected increment in the circulating level of triiodothyronine (T3) and T4. Melatonin and T4 treatment of PCOS rats resulted in a significant decrease in the circulating level of T3 and T4. Hyperthyroid rats showed a decrement in plasma melatonin levels. However, T4 treatment to PCOS rats showed increased circulating melatonin levels, and a decrease in the circulating level of gonadotropins (LH and FSH), and testosterone. Melatonin treatment to PCOS-hyperthyroid rats resulted in the normal expression of ovarian and thyroid MT1 and ERα, receptors, which had been altered in PCOS and hyperthyroid rats, without any significant change in the MT2 receptor. - Significance: The present findings suggest a fine interplay and cross-talk via melatonin and its two receptors with ERα, TRα, and Dio2in thyroid and ovarian tissue during PCOS and hyperthyroidism pathogenicity

Giant barocaloric tunability in [(CH<inf>3</inf>CH<inf>2</inf>CH<inf>2</inf>)<inf>4</inf>N]Cd[N(CN)<inf>2</inf>]<inf>3</inf> hybrid perovskite

We report the barocaloric performance of cadmium-dicyanamide perovskite [(CH3CH2CH2)4N]Cd[N(CN)2]3 ([TPrA]Cd[dca]3). The introduction of Cd, a large second-row post-transition metal, into this hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite structure leads to three separate thermally driven phase transitions and four polymorphs, which we characterize in full using temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and temperature-dependent calorimetry. Amongst these transitions, the non-isochoric orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition at high temperatures, with a large volume change of ∼0.4%, leads to a large reversible pressure-driven isothermal change in entropy of ∼11.5 J K-1 kg-1, and a giant barocaloric tunability of the transition temperature with pressure of ∼38.2 K kbar-1, which are both desirable for future low-pressure barocaloric cooling applications.The authors are grateful for financial support from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MINECO and EU-FEDER (project MAT2017-86453-R), and ERC Starting Grant no 680032. J. M. B. G. acknowledges Xunta de Galicia for a Postdoctoral Fellowship. X. M. is grateful for support from the Royal Society

Probe-specific K-complex densities.

<p>Probe-specific K-complex densities.</p

Inter-probe differences in K-complex densities during each sleep stage(s).

<p>Inter-probe differences in K-complex densities during each sleep stage(s).</p