Deep Proteomics of Mouse Skeletal Muscle Enables Quantitation of Protein Isoforms, Metabolic Pathways, and Transcription Factors

Skeletal muscle constitutes 40% of individual body mass and plays vital roles in locomotion and whole-body metabolism. Proteomics of skeletal muscle is challenging because of highly abundant contractile proteins that interfere with detection of regulatory proteins. Using a state-of-the art MS workflow and a strategy to map identifications from the C2C12 cell line model to tissues, we identified a total of 10,218 proteins, including skeletal muscle specific transcription factors like myod1 and myogenin and circadian clock proteins. We obtain absolute abundances for proteins expressed in a muscle cell line and skeletal muscle, which should serve as a valuable resource. Quantitation of protein isoforms of glucose uptake signaling pathways and in glucose and lipid metabolic pathways provides a detailed metabolic map of the cell line compared with tissue. This revealed unexpectedly complex regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase and insulin signaling in muscle tissue at the level of enzyme isoforms

Representation of Non-Spatial and Spatial Information in the Lateral Entorhinal Cortex

Some theories of memory propose that the hippocampus integrates the individual items and events of experience within a contextual or spatial framework. The hippocampus receives cortical input from two major pathways: the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) and the lateral entorhinal cortex (LEC). During exploration in an open field, the firing fields of MEC grid cells form a periodically repeating, triangular array. In contrast, LEC neurons show little spatial selectivity, and it has been proposed that the LEC may provide non-spatial input to the hippocampus. Here, we recorded MEC and LEC neurons while rats explored an open field that contained discrete objects. LEC cells fired selectively at locations relative to the objects, whereas MEC cells were weakly influenced by the objects. These results provide the first direct demonstration of a double dissociation between LEC and MEC inputs to the hippocampus under conditions of exploration typically used to study hippocampal place cells

Magnetic Switching of Phase-Slip Dissipation in NbSe2 Nanobelts

The stability of the superconducting dissipationless and resistive states in single-crystalline NbSe2 nanobelts is characterized by transport measurements in an external magnetic field (H). Current-driven electrical measurements show voltage steps, indicating the nucleation of phase-slip structures. Well below the critical temperature, the position of the voltage steps exhibits a sharp, periodic dependence as a function of H. This phenomenon is discussed in the context of two possible mechanisms: the interference of the order parameter and the periodic rearrangement of the vortex lattice within the nanobelt.Comment: 4 figure

Axon degeneration: context defines distinct pathways

Axon degeneration is an essential part of development, plasticity, and injury response and has been primarily studied in mammalian models in three contexts: 1) Axotomy-induced Wallerian degeneration, 2) Apoptosis-induced axon degeneration (axon apoptosis), and 3) Axon pruning. These three contexts dictate engagement of distinct pathways for axon degeneration. Recent advances have identified the importance of SARM1, NMNATs, NAD+ depletion, and MAPK signaling in axotomy-induced Wallerian degeneration. Interestingly, apoptosis-induced axon degeneration and axon pruning have many shared mechanisms both in signaling (e.g. DLK, JNKs, GSK3α/β) and execution (e.g. Puma, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3). However, the specific mechanisms by which caspases are activated during apoptosis versus pruning appear distinct, with apoptosis requiring Apaf-1 but not caspase-6 while pruning requires caspase-6 but not Apaf-1

The Effect of Turbulence Modeling on the Mixing Characteristics of Several Fuel Injectors at Hypervelocity Flow Conditions

CFD analysis is presented on the effects of turbulence modeling choices on the mixing characteristics and performance of three fuel injectors at hypervelocity flow conditions. The analyses were carried out with the VULCAN-CFD solver using Reynolds-Averaged Simulations (RAS). The hypervelocity flow conditions match the high Mach number flow of the experiments conducted as a part of the Enhanced Injection and Mixing Project (EIMP) at the NASA Langley Research Center. The three injectors are the baseline configurations used in the experiments and represent three categories of injectors typically considered individually or in combination for fueling high-speed propulsive devices. The current work discusses the impact of the turbulence model and the turbulent Schmidt number on the mixing flow field behavior and the mixing performance as described by the one-dimensional values of the Mach number, total pressure recovery, and the mixing efficiency. Because planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) images are available from the EIMP experiments, the sensitivity of the synthetic LIF signal to turbulence modeling choices is also examined to determine whether PLIF can be extended beyond its intended qualitative visualization purpose and used to guide CFD turbulence model and parameter selections. It is found that the mixing performance, as quantified using mixing efficiency, exhibits a strong sensitivity to both turbulence model choice and turbulent Schmidt number value. However, the synthetic LIF signal only demonstrates a modest level of sensitivity, which suggests that PLIF is of limited use for guiding CFD turbulence model and parameter selections

Bounds on the Quality-factor of Two-phase Quasi-static Metamaterial Resonators and Optimal Microstructure Designs

Material resonances are fundamentally important in the field of nano-photonics and optics. So it is of great interest to know what are the limits to which they can be tuned. The bandwidth of the resonances in materials is an important feature which is commonly characterized by using the quality (Q) factor. We present bounds on the quality factor of two-phase quasi-static metamaterial resonators evaluated at a given resonant frequency by introducing an alternative definition for the Q-factor in terms of the complex effective permittivity of the composite material. Optimal metamaterial microstrcuture designs achieving points on these bounds are presented. The most interesting optimal microstructure, is a limiting case of doubly coated ellipsoids that attains points on the lower bound. We also obtain bounds on Q for three dimensional, isotropic, and fixed volume fraction two-phase quasi-static metamaterials. Some almost optimal isotropic microstructure geometries are identified.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, and supplementry informatio

Patient satisfaction of outpatient department at ESIS hospital, Nagpur, India

Background: Employee state insurance scheme (ESIS) is a multidimensional social security system providing medical facilities to the insured persons and their family through large network of hospitals and dispensaries all over India. The present study was done to measure the satisfaction of OPD (Outpatient Department) patients.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in ESI Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India on 500 patients attending OPD. Patients were approached at the end of their OPD visits to know their perceptions towards the public health facilities, during the months of September and October 2017. Data collected was analyzed.Results: In present study, out of 500 patients, 210 (42%) said that crowd was average, 270 (54%) were satisfied with queue system, 390 (78%) were satisfied with the availability of drugs, 380 (76%) were satisfied with the behaviour of pharmacist.205 (41%) patients said it was not overcrowded, 310 (62%) patients were happy with the behaviour of registration clerk, 330 (66%) were satisfied with the seating arrangements for the patients and attendants, 265 (53%) were satisfied with the cleanliness, 205 (41%) were satisfied with the condition of toilets.390 (78%) patients said that doctor was available, 270 (54%) said that waiting time was less, 325 (65%) said that doctor listened to the problem attentively, 435 (87%) said that the doctor explained nicely about the disease while 425 (85%) were satisfied with the time given by the doctor.Conclusions: Almost half of the patients were satisfied with the registration facilities, basic amenities, service by doctor and pharmacy services. Mostly, patients chose this hospital as it was free for them due to their insurance and as it was near their house. Still, there is scope for improvement

Study of rationality and utilization pattern of antimicrobials in ear, nose, throat outpatient department of Tertiary Care Hospital, Nanded

Background: Antimicrobials are most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide. Around 50% of the prescriptions of antimicrobial drugs are either not needed, inappropriate or in wrong doses. With the widespread use of antimicrobial agents (AMAs), the prevalence of resistance has increased. To evaluate the prescription pattern and utilization of AMA in ear, nose, throat (ENT) outpatient department (OPD) of Tertiary Care Hospital, Nanded.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in ENT OPD of Dr. Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded over a period of 3 months. During this period, approximately 1100 patients visited ENT OPD and 600 prescriptions were evaluated. The excluded patients were of post-operative follow-up and of patients undergoing medical examination for fitness and handicap certificate. Data were collected by using specially designed case report form. Appropriateness of AMA was assessed by Kunin’s modified criteria.Results: Total 600 prescriptions were analyzed out of which (91%) consist of AMA. Most of them reported with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) (30.4%), chronic suppurative otitis media (21.4%), acute suppurative otitis media (10.4%), tonsillitis (3.3%), sinusitis (2.7%), and others (15%). Amoxicillin (43.9%) was preferred AMA followed by ciprofloxacin (30.6%), cotrimoxazole (5.8%), azithromycin (3.2%), doxycycline (3.2%) cefixime + clavulanate (3.2%), and amoxicillin + clavulanate (1.8%). Single antibiotic was preferred in all prescriptions. In the concomitant medications, antihistaminics were prescribed in 97.22% of patients, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in 94.96% of patients, and antacids in 87.76% of patients. Fixed-dose combinations were used in 10% of prescriptions. Brand names of AMA were used in 10% of prescriptions. As per the Kunin’s modified criteria, 83% of patients received AMA therapy appropriately, while 17% patients inappropriately.Conclusions: Amoxicillin is the most common AMA prescribed and URTI is the most common diagnosis made. All AMAs should be prescribed only when needed and should be used in proper dose and for proper duration. Institution wise antibiotic policy should be used to contain resistance. Proper training and regular orientation programs of the juniors’ doctors for judicial use of AMAs will foster the habit of rational prescribing of AMA

Bumper catch of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus at Satpati, Bombay

The article provies details about heavy catches of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus within a span of four days at Satpati, a fishing village in Thane District in Maharashtra during 1987

Occurrence of dusky sweeper Pempheris adusta Bleeker, 1877 in Ratnagiri waters, Maharashtra

Pempheris adusta Bleeker, 1877, commonly called ‘dusky sweeper’ (Fig. 1), generally live on coral reefs and form schools in large caves among rocks. On 19/08/2009, a good number of specimens of P. adusta were observed at Mirkarwada landing centre in Ratnagiri (Fig. 2). They had elliptical, compressed body with iridescent, coppery silver colouration, because of which they were spectacular in appearance