Extrahypothalamic Control of Energy Balance and Its Connection with Reproduction: Roles of the Amygdala

Body energy and metabolic homeostasis are exquisitely controlled by multiple, often overlapping regulatory mechanisms, which permit the tight adjustment between fuel reserves, internal needs, and environmental (e.g., nutritional) conditions. As such, this function is sensitive to and closely connected with other relevant bodily systems, including reproduction and gonadal function. The aim of this mini-review article is to summarize the most salient experimental data supporting a role of the amygdala as a key brain region for emotional learning and behavior, including reward processing, in the physiological control of feeding and energy balance. In particular, a major focus will be placed on the putative interplay between reproductive signals and amygdala pathways, as it pertains to the control of metabolism, as complementary, extrahypothalamic circuit for the integral control of energy balance and gonadal function

NMR metabolomics of cerebrospinal fluid differentiates inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system

BACKGROUND: Myriad infectious and noninfectious causes of encephalomyelitis (EM) have similar clinical manifestations, presenting serious challenges to diagnosis and treatment. Metabolomics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was explored as a method of differentiating among neurological diseases causing EM using a single CSF sample. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: 1H NMR metabolomics was applied to CSF samples from 27 patients with a laboratory-confirmed disease, including Lyme disease or West Nile Virus meningoencephalitis, multiple sclerosis, rabies, or Histoplasma meningitis, and 25 controls. Cluster analyses distinguished samples by infection status and moderately by pathogen, with shared and differentiating metabolite patterns observed among diseases. CART analysis predicted infection status with 100% sensitivity and 93% specificity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These preliminary results suggest the potential utility of CSF metabolomics as a rapid screening test to enhance diagnostic accuracies and improve patient outcomes

The pulsing structure of science: Ortega y Gasset, Saint Matthew, fractality and transfractality

By a new fractal/transfractal geometry of the Unified Scientometric Model, it is possible to demonstrate that science presents an oscillating or pulsing dynamic. It goes alternatively through two types of phases. Some phases are fractal, with crystalline networks, where the Matthew effect clearly manifests itself with regard to the most notable actors and those that provide the best contributions. The other phases are transfractal, with deformed, amorphous networks, in which the actors, considered mediocre, present greater capacity to restructure the network than the more renowned actors. The result after any transfractal deformation is a new crystalline fractal network. Behind this vision lies the Kuhn paradigms. As examples, the scientific fields of surfactants and autism have been analysed

The Impact of Financial Security and Extracurriculars on Seventh Day Adventist College Students\u27 Academic Success and Mental Well-Being

The presentation covers the rationale, methodology, and results of a mixed-methods study designed to answer the following research question: Does the relationship between a Southern Adventist University student’s financial security and involvement in extracurricular activities influence academic success and mental well-being? Data will be collected via a survey and individual in-depth interviews from a convenience sample of students from Southern Adventist University. Finally, it discusses implications for practice or policy change

Compensation of laser frequency fluctuations and phase noise in 16-QAM coherent receivers

Frequency fluctuations caused by mechanical vibrations, power supply noise, and other mechanisms are detrimental to the phase estimator performance in high speed intradyne coherent optical receivers. In this letter, we propose the use of a low-latency parallel digital phase lock loop in combination with common feed-forward carrier phase recovery algorithms in order to compensate both the phase noise and laser frequency fluctuation effects on 16-quadrature amplitude modulation receivers. Numerical results demonstrate the excellent behavior of the proposed two-stage carrier recovery scheme. © 2012 IEEE.Fil: Gianni, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Corral Briones, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Carmen Encarnacion. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Hueda, Mario Rafael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Avanzados en Ingeniería y Tecnología; Argentin

The Filipino online dating: Filipino young adults\u27 perception on online relationships

In the Philippines, the interdependent culture plays a role in how Filipinos perceive online dating and how it motivates them to use the medium. The researchers interviewed Filipino young adults, age 20-35 years old currently living in Metro Manila Philippines who tried online dating at least once. The researchers analyze the data through the requirements and guidelines of thematic analysis, a qualitative analysis that focuses on themes that come from analyzing, identifying and reporting patterns. The researchers discovered that online dating can help individuals meet potential romantic partners online, then transition into traditional dating. However, the researchers would like to note that not all online relationships can lead to successful long term relationships. It is found also that Filipino young adults are motivated to try online dating because of the influence of the experience of other individuals and they find online dating as an avenue not only in finding romantic relationships, but a convenient way to learn about other people and broaden their connections

Phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Helianthemum (Cistaceae) using plastid and nuclear DNA-sequences: Systematic and evolutionary inferences

Helianthemum is the largest, most widely distributed and most taxonomically complex genus of the Cistaceae. To examine the intrageneric phylogenetic relationships in Helianthemum, we used sequence data from plastid DNA (ndhF, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF) and the nuclear ITS region. The ingroup consisted of 95 species and subspecies (2 subgenera, 10 sections) from throughout the range of Helianthemum, while the outgroup was composed of 30 species representing all the genera in the Cistaceae (Cistus Crocanthemum, Fumana, Halimium, Hudsonia, Lechea, Tuberaria) plus Anisoptera thurifera subsp. polyandra (Dipterocarpaceae). To infer phylogenetic relationships, we analysed three different matrices (cpDNA, nrDNA, cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated) using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, and performed molecular dating to estimate the ages of origin of the main clades using a Bayesian approach. The cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated dataset provided the highest Bayesian posterior probabilities and bootstrap support values, and the results supported the monophyly of the genus Helianthemum and its sister relationship to a clade consisting of all species of Cistus, Crocanthemum, Halimium, Hudsonia and Tuberaria. This result means that we did not retrieve the sister relationship between Helianthemum and Crocanthemum (plus Hudsonia) that could be expected according to previous published studies. Despite their different statistical support, the topology of the inner branches of all the consensus trees showed that Helianthemum is characterized by the emergence of three major clades in agreement with above-species taxonomy, although unresolved polytomies still remain towards the tips of the trees (species and subspecies). Clade I (mainly distributed in Mediterranean and alpine environments in European and western Asiatic mountain chains) fully coincided with subg. Plectolobum, whereas subg. Helianthemum was retrieved in clade II (arid and semi-arid environments from Macaronesia, the Mediterranean, subtropical northern Africa, Anatolia and central Asia) and clade III (Mediterranean ecosystems around the Mediterranean Basin). The burst of diversification during the Plio-Pleistocene detected in the three main clades of Helianthemum is concomitant with the Messinian salinity crisis, the onset of Mediterranean climatic conditions, and Quaternary glaciations, as found in many other groups of Mediterranean plants. Thus, the general lack of resolution in the trees can be attributed to rapid species diversification and events of reticulate evolution. A series of further taxonomic and evolutionary inferences can be drawn from our analyses: (i) no species occupied an early-diverging position with regard the rest of the species; (ii) a close relationship between H. caput-felis and subg. Plectolobum; (iii) an unexpected close relationship between H. squamatum/H. syriacum (and H. motae), H. lunulatum/H. pomeridianum and among H. songaricum/H. antitauricum/H. germanicopolitanum; (iv) a close relationship between incertae sedis species and sect. Eriocarpum; and (v) the existence of a monophyletic lineage consisting of Canary Islands species formerly ascribed to sect. Argyrolepis or sect. Lavandulaceum within sect. Helianthemum

Dual-Chamber Pacing With Closed Loop Stimulation in Recurrent Reflex Vasovagal Syncope: The SPAIN Study.

Pacing in vasovagal syncope remains controversial. The authors evaluated dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) in patients with cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope. This randomized, double-blind, controlled study included Canadian and Spanish patients age ≥40 years, with high burden syncope (≥5 episodes, ≥2 episodes in the past year), and a cardioinhibitory head-up tilt test (bradycardia 3 s). Patients were randomized to either DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months followed by sham DDI mode pacing at 30 pulses/min for 12 months (group A), or sham DDI mode for 12 months followed by DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months (group B). Patients in both arms crossed-over after 12 months of follow-up or when a maximum of 3 syncopal episodes occurred within 1 month. A total of 46 patients completed the protocol; 22 were men (47.8%), and mean age was 56.30 ± 10.63 years. The mean number of previous syncopal episodes was 12 (range 9 to 20). The proportion of patients with ≥50% reduction in the number of syncopal episodes was 72% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47% to 90%) with DDD-CLS compared with 28% (95% CI: 9.7% to 53.5%) with sham DDI mode (p = 0.017). A total of 4 patients (8.7%) had events during DDD-CLS and 21 (45.7%) during sham DDI (hazard ratio: 6.7; 95% CI: 2.3 to 19.8). Kaplan-Meier curve was significantly different between groups in time to first syncope: 29.2 months (95% CI: 15.3 to 29.2 months) versus 9.3 months (95% CI: 6.21 months, NA; p  DDD-CLS pacing significantly reduced syncope burden and time to first recurrence by 7-fold, prolonging time to first syncope recurrence in patients age ≥40 years with head-up tilt test-induced vasovagal syncope compared with sham pacing. (Closed Loop Stimulation for Neuromediated Syncope [SPAIN Study]; NCT01621464)

Development of a 3D Printed Brain Model with Vasculature for Neurosurgical Procedure Visualisation and Training

Background: Simulation-based techniques using three-dimensional models are gaining popularity in neurosurgical training. Most pre-existing models are expensive, so we felt a need to develop a real-life model using 3D printing technology to train in endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Methods: The brain model was made using a 3D-printed resin mold from patient-specific MRI data. The mold was filled with silicone Ecoflex™ 00-10 and mixed with Silc Pig® pigment additives to replicate the color and consistency of brain tissue. The dura mater was made from quick-drying silicone paste admixed with gray dye. The blood vessels were made from a silicone 3D-printed mold based on magnetic resonance imaging. Liquid containing paprika oleoresin dye was used to simulate blood and was pumped through the vessels to simulate pulsatile motion. Results: Seven residents and eight senior neurosurgeons were recruited to test our model. The participants reported that the size and anatomy of the elements were very similar to real structures. The model was helpful for training neuroendoscopic 3D perception and navigation. Conclusions: We developed an endoscopic third ventriculostomy training model using 3D printing technology that provides anatomical precision and a realistic simulation. We hope our model can provide an indispensable tool for young neurosurgeons to gain operative experience without exposing patients to risk