FOOT ARCH STRAIN OF EXCESSIVE PRONATORS DURING TWO-LEGS AND ONELEG STANDING AND WALKING

INTRODUCTION: The movement of plantar fascia under the foot has been characterized by foot arch strain in vitro (Kogler, Solomonidis, & Paul, 1995). The characteristics of the foot arch strain under the static and dynamic conditions in excessive pronators are not well known. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the foot arch strain during two legs, one-leg standing and walking in excessive pronation

CIIA functions as a molecular switch for the Rac1-specific GEF activity of SOS1

CIIA mediates the TGF-β–induced activation of SOS1–Rac1 signaling and cell migration

Direct and real-time observation of hole transport dynamics in anatase TiO2 using X-ray free-electron laser

Carrier dynamics affects photocatalytic systems, but direct and real-time observations in an element-specific and energy-level-specific manner are challenging. In this study, we demonstrate that the dynamics of photo-generated holes in metal oxides can be directly probed by using femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy at an X-ray free-electron laser. We identify the energy level and life time of holes with a long life time (230 pico-seconds) in nano-crystal materials. We also observe that trapped holes show an energy distribution in the bandgap region with a formation time of 0.3 pico-seconds and a decay time of 8.0 pico-seconds at room temperature. We corroborate the dynamics of the electrons by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the metal L-edges in a consistent explanation with that of the holes

Whole-genome resequencing of wild and domestic sheep identifies genes associated with morphological and agronomic traits

Understanding the genetic changes underlying phenotypic variation in sheep (Ovis aries) may facilitate our efforts towards further improvement. Here, we report the deep resequencing of 248 sheep including the wild ancestor (O. orientalis), landraces, and improved breeds. We explored the sheep variome and selection signatures. We detected genomic regions harboring genes associated with distinct morphological and agronomic traits, which may be past and potential future targets of domestication, breeding, and selection. Furthermore, we found non-synonymous mutations in a set of plausible candidate genes and significant differences in their allele frequency distributions across breeds. We identified PDGFD as a likely causal gene for fat deposition in the tails of sheep through transcriptome, RT-PCR, qPCR, and Western blot analyses. Our results provide insights into the demographic history of sheep and a valuable genomic resource for future genetic studies and improved genome-assisted breeding of sheep and other domestic animals

25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong

A Technical Strategy for Carotid Artery Stenting: Suboptimal Prestent Balloon Angioplasty Without Poststenting Balloon Dilatation

BACKGROUND: Traditional carotid artery stenting (CAS) consists of predilatation, optional deployment of embolic protection devices, stenting, and poststent angioplasty. Each step carries a risk of thromboembolism. OBJECTIVE: To design a new and simplified procedural protocol, suboptimal balloon angioplasty without routine poststenting balloon dilatation, and to describe the efficacy this protocol in terms of procedural risks and angiographic and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Over a period of 6 years, 161 carotid artery stenoses in 156 consecutive patients were treated by CAS with embolic protection devices. Among them, 110 lesions in 107 patients (68.3%) were treated by our simplified method (symptomatic, > 50% stenosis; asymptomatic, > 70% stenosis). Overall, 98 lesions (88.3%) had severe stenosis (> 70%). RESULTS: The mean stenosis was reduced from 77% to 10% after CAS. A persistent neurological deficit developed in 2 patients from thromboembolism. Hemodynamic insufficiency developed in 14 lesions during CAS (12.7%). The ipsilateral stroke and mortality rate was 4.5% within 1 month after CAS (asymptomatic, 3.6%; symptomatic, 4.8%). Over a mean of 19 months of follow-up, additive angioplasty was performed in 2 patients as a result of progressive restenosis (>= 50%). A comparison of the balloon sizes of the prestent angioplasty for group 1 (balloon, = 5 mm) showed no difference in restenosis between the groups at 15 months of follow-up after CAS. CONCLUSION: Our CAS technique with suboptimal prestenting angioplasty without routine use of poststenting dilatation is safe, simple, and efficient with acceptable risks.Bussiere M, 2008, J NEUROSURG, V109, P454, DOI 10.3171/JNS/2008/109/9/0454Im SH, 2008, J ENDOVASC THER, V15, P110Maynar M, 2007, AM J NEURORADIOL, V28, P1378, DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A0543Skelly CL, 2006, J VASC SURG, V44, P1010, DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2006.06.039Gray WA, 2006, J VASC SURG, V44, P258, DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2006.03.044Reimers B, 2006, J ENDOVASC THER, V13, P429Roubin GS, 2006, CIRCULATION, V113, P2021, DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.595512Gupta R, 2006, J AM COLL CARDIOL, V47, P1538, DOI 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.08.079Goodney PP, 2006, J VASC SURG, V43, P406, DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2005.11.012Cayne NS, 2005, J VASC SURG, V41, P956, DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2005.02.038Lownie SP, 2005, AM J NEURORADIOL, V26, P1241Yadav JS, 2004, NEW ENGL J MED, V351, P1493Mozes G, 2004, J VASC SURG, V39, P958, DOI 10.1016/j.jvs.2003.12.037Mlekusch W, 2003, J ENDOVASC THER, V10, P851Leisch F, 2003, CATHETER CARDIO INTE, V58, P516, DOI 10.1002/ccd.10483Martin JB, 2001, STROKE, V32, P479Vitek JJ, 2000, AM J NEURORADIOL, V21, P1736Dangas G, 2000, RADIOLOGY, V215, P677Qureshi AI, 1999, STROKE, V30, P20861991, N ENGL J MED, V325, P445

Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 protects DNBS-induced inflammatory bowel disease in mice model.

Recent studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on a model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A total of 28 female NC/Nga mice were divided into 4 treatment groups. Controls were fed a normal commercial diet. In the experimental groups, colitis was induced by rectal administration of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Two groups were orally administered 2 and 17 mg/kg EF-2001, respectively. EF-2001 treatment decreased the expression of several cytokines, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in inflamed colon compared to the DNBS alone group. In addition, EF-2001 suppressed DNBS-induced colonic tissue destruction. Therefore, this study strongly suggests that EF-2001 could alleviate the inflammation associated with mouse IBD