A NOVEL STUDY EXAMINING COGNITIVE-MOTOR INTERFERENCE AFTER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of examining cognitive motor interference (CMi) in athletes following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and return to sport through electroencephalography (EEG) and three-dimensional motion capture recordings. A 128-electrode EEG system is used to track brain wave patterns for specific biomarkers of CMi during sitting and balance tasks. An 8-camera Optitrack system is used to obtain three-dimensional kinematics during anticipated and unanticipated drop vertical jumps. Preliminary EEG N200 amplitudes (ACL: -4.99 ± 2.39; Control: -7.75 ± 5.83) and peak knee flexion (ACL: 93.29 ± 12.92°; Control: 92.87 ± 7.17°) during dual-task and unanticipated landings, respectively, demonstrate the feasibility of this study. Future work will continue to assess the effect of CMi on risk factors for secondary ACL injury

Space Mobile Network (SMN) User Demonstration Satellite (SUDS) for a Practical On-Orbit Demonstration of User Initiated Services (UIS)

This paper will discuss the various aspects of implementation of the Space Mobile Network (SMN) architecture framework within the context of operations of various nodes equipped with the User Initiated Services (UIS) protocol. These aspects include development of a Client-Server architecture in which space based Clients can create links with ground based Servers to negotiate passes with ground stations or contacts with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) fleet. A key feature of this concept is that Users may require a mix of low data rate continuous contacts with one or more of the TDRS fleet and sporadic contacts with ground stations as passes become available. SUDS (SMN User Demonstration Satellite) will have the availability of TDRS contacts, the U.S. Naval Academy's ground station, NASA Near Earth Network ground sites and others. This mode of operations must be integrated within the traditional mode of scheduling contacts and passes. Thus, SUDS fits into a heterogeneous network operations concept of operations

PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE TEAMS GAMES TOURNAMENT UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEAKTIFAN BELAJAR SISWA PADA MATEMATIKA [IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COOPERATIVE LEARNING MODEL TYPE TEAMS GAMES TOURNAMENT TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN MATHEMATICS]

Based on observations of a grade 10 social studies-track 2 class, students appeared less active in learning. Many students in the class looked sleepy, were too embarrassed to ask questions, did not want to join in discussions with their friends, and were too lazy to do the tasks. This research aims to understand whether the Team Game Tournament (TGT) method can increase the activeness of students. The method of Classroom Action Research is the model Kemmis and McTaggart administered in two cycles. The research was done at a school in Makassar with 25 students from the grade 10 social studies-track 2 as research subjects. The data were collected using mentor observation sheets, students' questionnaires and reflection journals. The results of the analysis show that the students’ activeness in participation, students’ activeness in sharing opinions, and students’ activeness in listening and discussing have reached the standard of success and received a "good" minimum predicate with 68%, 72% and 92% respectively. Over all, the result of this research can be concluded that TGT method can improve student learning activity.BAHASA INDONESIA ABSTRACT: Hasil observasi dalam kelas menunjukkan bahwa siswa kelas X IPS 2 kurang aktif di dalam pembelajaran. Banyak siswa yang tidur-tiduran, malu bertanya, tidak mau berdiskusi dan malas mengerjakan soal-soal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah metode Team Game Tournament (TGT) dapat meningkatkan keaktifan belajar siswa dan langkah-langkah penerapan metode TGT yang dapat meningkatkan keaktifan belajar siswa. Penelitian tindakan kelas dengan model Kemmis dan McTaggart yang dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus  dilakukan di salah satu sekolah di Makassar dengan subjek penelitian siswa kelas X IPS 2. Pengumpulan data dilakukan menggunakan instrumen lembar observasi, lembar angket dan jurnal refleksi. Hasil analisis menunjukan bahwa keaktifan siswa dalam berpastisipasi di dalam kegiatan pembelajaran, keaktifan siswa dalam mengajukan pendapatnya dan  keaktifan siswa dalam menjawab soal atau memecahkan soal mencapai standar keberhasilan dan mendapat predikat minimal “baik” dengan presentase secara berurutan yaitu 68%, 72% dan 92%. Hasil penelitian secara keseluruhan dapat disimpulkan bahwa metode TGT dapat meningkatkan keaktifan belajar siswa

Expression of divIB of Bacillus subtilis during vegetative growth

Expression of the division initiation gene, divIB, of Bacillus subtilis vegetative growth was examined. lacZ fusion studies and transcription start point mapping have established that a sigma A promoter proximal to divIB is utilized in vivo. The -10 region of this promoter, which is located 93 bp upstream of the start codon, has been defined precisely by site-directed mutagenesis that destroys the promoter. Examination of transcripts by Northern (RNA) blotting has shown that there are at least two transcripts for divIB. The established proximal promoter was found to give rise to a very minor transcript which could not be convincingly demonstrated in wild-type cells but which became apparent upon insertion of a plasmid into the chromosome just upstream of this promoter. The major transcript for divIB originated from a site several kb upstream of the gene and is probably the same as the long polycistronic message also traversing the murD-spoVE-murG genes that was identified previously by others (A.D. Henriques, H. de Lencastre, and P.J. Piggot, Biochimie 74:735-748, 1992). Transcription from the proximal promoter alone, in an upstream-deletion mutant strain, provided sufficient DivIB for normal growth and division as well as sporulation

Targeting tubulointerstitial remodeling in proteinuric nephropathy in rats

Proteinuria is an important cause of tubulointerstitial damage. Anti-proteinuric interventions are not always successful, and residual proteinuria often leads to renal failure. This indicates the need for additional treatment modalities by targeting the harmful downstream consequences of proteinuria. We previously showed that proteinuria triggers renal lymphangiogenesis before the onset of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis. However, the interrelationship of these interstitial events in proteinuria is not yet clear. To this end, we specifically blocked lymphangiogenesis (anti-VEGFR3 antibody), monocyte/macrophage influx (clodronate liposomes) or lymphocyte and myofibroblast influx (S1P agonist FTY720) separately in a rat model to investigate the role and the possible interaction of each of these phenomena in tubulointerstitial remodeling in proteinuric nephropathy. Proteinuria was induced in 3-month old male Wistar rats by adriamycin injection. After 6 weeks, when proteinuria has developed, rats were treated for another 6 weeks by anti-VEGFR3 antibody, clodronate liposomes or FTY720 up to week 12. In proteinuric rats, lymphangiogenesis, influx of macrophages, T cells and myofibroblasts, and collagen III deposition and interstitial fibrosis significantly increased at week 12 vs week 6. Anti-VEGFR3 antibody prevented lymphangiogenesis in proteinuric rats, however, without significant effects on inflammatory and fibrotic markers or proteinuria. Clodronate liposomes inhibited macrophage influx and partly reduced myofibroblast expression; however, neither significantly prevented the development of lymphangiogenesis, nor fibrotic markers and proteinuria. FTY720 prevented myofibroblast accumulation, T-cell influx and interstitial fibrosis, and partially reduced macrophage number and proteinuria; however, it did not significantly influence lymphangiogenesis and collagen III deposition. This study showed that proteinuria-induced interstitial fibrosis cannot be halted by blocking lymphangiogenesis or the influx of macrophages. On the other hand, FTY720 treatment did prevent T-cell influx, myofibroblast accumulation and interstitial fibrosis, but not renal lymphangiogenesis and proteinuria. We conclude that tubulointerstitial fibrosis and inflammation are separate from lymphangiogenesis, at least under proteinuric conditions

Urinary collagen degradation products as early markers of progressive renal fibrosis

Background: Renal fibrogenesis is associated with increased ECM remodeling and release of collagen fragments in urine in progressive renal disease. We investigated the diagnostic value of urinary collagen degradation products in a proteinuria-driven fibrosis rat model with and without anti-fibrotic S1P-receptor modulator FTY720 treatment. Methods: Proteinuria was induced in male Wistar rats by Adriamycin (ADR) injection (n = 16). Healthy rats served as controls (n = 12). Six weeks post-injection, all underwent renal biopsy, and FTY720-treatment started in ADR-rats (n = 8) and controls (n = 6). Others remained untreated. Rats were sacrificed after 12 weeks. Collagen type I (C1M) and III (C3M) degradation fragments were measured in blood and urine using ELISA. Kidneys were stained for various inflammatory and fibrotic markers. Results: Six weeks post-injection proteinuria increased (versus controls, P <0.001) and although no accumulation of interstitial renal collagen type III (iColl3) was observed at this time, urinary C3M (uC3M) and C1M (uC1M) were significantly increased (both P <0.001). At 12 weeks, uC3M (P <0.001) and uC1M (P <0.01) further increased in ADR-rats versus controls, just as fibronectin, PDGF-beta receptor, hyaluronan (all P <0.01), iColl3, PAS, myofibroblasts, macrophages and T-cells (all P <0.05). FTY720-treatment reduced accumulation of immune cells, alpha-SMA+ myofibroblasts and PAS-score, but not iColl3 and uC3M. Correlation analyses indicated that uC3M and uC1M reflected and predicted tubulointerstitial fibrogenesis. Conclusions: These data displayed urinary collagen breakdown products as sensitive early markers of interstitial fibrosis, preceding histological fibrotic changes, which might replace the invasive renal biopsy procedure to assess fibrosis. Anti-fibrotic FTY720 intervention reduced some fibrotic markers without affecting collagen type III metabolism

Germline Mutations in NFKB2 Implicate the Noncanonical NF-κB Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by antibody deficiency, poor humoral response to antigens, and recurrent infections. To investigate the molecular cause of CVID, we carried out exome sequence analysis of a family diagnosed with CVID and identified a heterozygous frameshift mutation, c.2564delA (p.Lys855Serfs∗7), in NFKB2 affecting the C terminus of NF-κB2 (also known as p100/p52 or p100/p49). Subsequent screening of NFKB2 in 33 unrelated CVID-affected individuals uncovered a second heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.2557C>T (p.Arg853∗), in one simplex case. Affected individuals in both families presented with an unusual combination of childhood-onset hypogammaglobulinemia with recurrent infections, autoimmune features, and adrenal insufficiency. NF-κB2 is the principal protein involved in the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, is evolutionarily conserved, and functions in peripheral lymphoid organ development, B cell development, and antibody production. In addition, Nfkb2 mouse models demonstrate a CVID-like phenotype with hypogammaglobulinemia and poor humoral response to antigens. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy of transformed B cells from affected individuals show that the NFKB2 mutations affect phosphorylation and proteasomal processing of p100 and, ultimately, p52 nuclear translocation. These findings describe germline mutations in NFKB2 and establish the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway as a genetic etiology for this primary immunodeficiency syndrome

Efficacy of a monovalent human-bovine (116E) rotavirus vaccine in Indian children in the second year of life

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in Indian children less than 2 years of age. The 116E rotavirus strain was developed as part of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program and has undergone efficacy trials. This paper reports the efficacy and additional safety data in children up to 2 years of age. In a double-blind placebo controlled multicenter trial, 6799 infants aged 6-7 weeks were randomized to receive three doses of an oral human-bovine natural reassortant vaccine (116E) or placebo at ages 6, 10, and 14 weeks. The primary outcome was severe (≥11 on the Vesikari scale) rotavirus gastroenteritis. Efficacy outcomes and adverse events were ascertained through active surveillance. We randomly assigned 4532 and 2267 subjects to receive vaccine and placebo, respectively, with over 96% subjects receiving all three doses of the vaccine or placebo. The per protocol analyses included 4354 subjects in the vaccine and 2187 subjects in the placebo group. The overall incidence of severe RVGE per 100 person years was 1.3 in the vaccine group and 2.9 in the placebo recipients. Vaccine efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children up to 2 years of age was 55.1% (95% CI 39.9 to 66.4; p&#60;0.0001); vaccine efficacy in the second year of life of 48.9% (95% CI 17.4 to 68.4; p=0.0056) was only marginally less than in the first year of life [56.3% (95% CI 36.7 to 69.9; p&#60;0.0001)]. The number of infants needed to be immunized to prevent one episode of severe RVGE in the first 2 years of life was 40 (95% CI 28.0 to 63.0) and for RVGE of any severity, it was 21 (95% CI 16.0 to 32.0). Serious adverse events were observed at the same rates in the two groups. None of the eight intussusception events occurred within 30 days of a vaccine dose and all were reported only after the third dose. The sustained efficacy of the 116E in the second year of life is reassuring