Effect of the Bio-agents (Bacillus megaterium and Trichoderma album) on Citrus Nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans) Infecting Baladi orange and

The effect of two commercial compounds namely Bioarc TM (Bacillus megaterium) and Biozeid TM (Trichoderma album) at different rates against Tylenchulus semipenetrans was examined under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In laboratory experiment, both compounds Bioarc and Biozeid as bio-control agents found to be highly nematostatic agents against J2 of T. semipenetrans. The rates of 20, 25 and 30g/l gave more than 60% J2 mortality after 72h exposure time. The highest effect was achieved at 30 g/l whereas, Bioarc (90.5 %) exhibited the highest effect followed by Biozeid (88.3%) at 30g/l after 72h exposure time. In greenhouse experiment, the bio-agents were evaluated at rates of 20, 25 and 30 g/l compared to nematicide Nemathorin 10% G at recommended dose (12.5 kg/ feddan) on the development of T. semipenetrans infecting Baladi orange and Lime seedlings. Results showed significant differences between the tested rates of both bio-agents. At the higher rate (30.0g/l), Bioarc (89.0, 89.5%; 76.6, 82.9%) was found to be more effective than Biozeid (88.3, 89.0%; 72.0, 77.9%) in reducing number of J2/100g soil and females/g root of Baladi orange and Lime infected with T. semipenetrans  respectively. Moreover, both Bioarc and Biozeid at 30.0g/l significantly increased plant growth of Baladi orange and Lime infected with T. semipenetrans

Is sdLDL a valuable screening tool for cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome?

Many patients with cardiovascular disease have their low density lipoprotein cholesterol within normal range. This raises the question about the most important lipoprotein to use as a marker of atherogenecity. In fact, small dense low density lipoprotein has recently been suggested as a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease. Among high risk patients, those with metabolic syndrome represent an important target population. Different methods of small dense low density lipoprotein measurement were developed. Accordingly, two phenotypes of low density lipoprotein are recognized: Phenotype A (predominance of large buoyant low density lipoprotein) & phenotype B (predominance of small dense low density lipoprotein). However, none of the methods has been yet considered as a gold standard one. A lot of studies confirmed the role of small dense low density lipoprotein in the development of cardiovascular disease through atherogenic properties & clinical trials. However, others failed to do so. These discrepancies may be due to different sample sizes, different populations, different age groups, different methods of measurement & other possible confounding factors. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of small dense low density lipoprotein as a valuable screening/ preventive tool of cardiovascular disease in patients with metabolic syndrome

A multi-band MIMO antenna system with coupled-fed modified rectangular patch elements for 5G systems

A four-port multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna system constructed of four compact dual-band (38/60 GHz) microstrip patch antennas is proposed for 5G mobile applications. Each individual element is optimized to achieve the desired performance of the overall MIMO system. Numerical and experimental investigations are achieved to assess the performance of both the single-element antenna and the four-port MIMO antenna system. It is shown that the simulation results agree with the experimental measurements, and both show good performance of the proposed MIMO antenna system. The bandwidths achieved around 38 GHz and 60 GHz are about 2 GHz and 3.2 GHz, respectively. The performance of the MIMO antenna system including the return loss at each antenna port and the coupling coefficients between the different ports are investigated. The radiation patterns produced when each port is excited alone are shown to be suitable for spatial diversity scheme. They have a high radiation efficiency exhibited by a balloon-like shaped radiation pattern for both the upper and lower frequency bands. It is shown that the envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) and the diversity gain (DG) are suitable for performance for the targeted 5G bands.</p

Decision-making in a neural network model of the basal ganglia

International audienceThe mechanisms of decision-making are generally thought to be under the control of a set of cortico-subcortical loops involving basal ganglia and thalamic pathways. These structures include several parallel functional loops connecting back to distinct areas of cortex, processing motor, cognitive and limbic modalities of decision making. Due to convergence and divergence within the network, these loops cannot be completely segregated. We used these circuit properties to develop a computational model at a spiking neuron level of description. The model was implemented using leaky integrate-and-fire neuronal models connected by voltage-jump synapses and its architecture relied on commonly accepted data regarding the complex functional connectivity description between basal ganglia, cortex and thalamus.This model was applied to a decision making task which was initially studied in primates. In this task, the animals were trained to associate reward probabilities to different cues they had to select in order to maximize their gain.Combining behavioral and electrophysiological experimental data from this study and detailed circuit description, we developed a basal ganglia model in which we used two parallel loops, each of which performed decision making based on interactions between positive and negative feedback pathways. The loops communicate via partially convergent and divergent connections in specific basal ganglia sub-regions.This neuronal network model was then trained to perform the same decision making task as in primates. This training resulted from the closed-loop interaction between the neural circuitry and its sensory-motor interface. The learning was implemented as a cortico-striatal synaptic weight variation modulated by phasic dopamine release following the presence or absence of reward delivery.Thanks to this simple bottom-up approach the model was able to learn to select optimum reward cues in a similar manner as the monkey. Moreover, this model allows us (i) to avoid the arbitrary choice of a pre-existing machine-learning derivative model, (ii) to investigate lesional and pharmacological effects on learning and decision making and (iii) also provides the possibility to test for further hypotheses regarding cell-scale mechanisms effect on the whole model capacities

The Link Between Creativity, Cognition, and Creative Drives and Underlying Neural Mechanisms

Having a creative mind is one of the gateways for achieving fabulous success and remarkable progress in professional, personal and social life. Therefore, a better understanding of the neural correlates and the underlying neural mechanisms related to creative ideation is crucial and valuable. However, the current literature on neural systems and circuits underlying creative cognition, and on how creative drives such as motivation, mood states, and reward could shape our creative mind through the associated neuromodulatory systems [i.e., the dopaminergic (DA), the noradrenergic (NE) and the serotonergic (5-HT) system] seems to be insufficient to explain the creative ideation and production process. One reason might be that the mentioned systems and processes are usually investigated in isolation and independent of each other. Through this review, we aim at advancing the current state of knowledge by providing an integrative view on the interactions between neural systems underlying the creative cognition and the creative drive and associated neuromodulatory systems (see Figure 1)

Dynamic Communications Between GABAA Switch, Local Connectivity, and Synapses During Cortical Development: A Computational Study

Several factors regulate cortical development, such as changes in local connectivity and the influences of dynamical synapses. In this study, we simulated various factors affecting the regulation of neural network activity during cortical development. Previous studies have shown that during early cortical development, the reversal potential of GABAA shifts from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing. Here we provide the first integrative computational model to simulate the combined effects of these factors in a unified framework (building on our prior work: Khalil et al., 2017a,b). In the current study, we extend our model to monitor firing activity in response to the excitatory action of GABAA. Precisely, we created a Spiking Neural Network model that included certain biophysical parameters for lateral connectivity (distance between adjacent neurons) and nearby local connectivity (complex connections involving those between neuronal groups). We simulated different network scenarios (for immature and mature conditions) based on these biophysical parameters. Then, we implemented two forms of Short-term synaptic plasticity (depression and facilitation). Each form has two distinct kinds according to its synaptic time constant value. Finally, in both sets of networks, we compared firing rate activity responses before and after simulating dynamical synapses. Based on simulation results, we found that the modulation effect of dynamical synapses for evaluating and shaping the firing activity of the neural network is strongly dependent on the physiological state of GABAA. Moreover, the STP mechanism acts differently in every network scenario, mirroring the crucial modulating roles of these critical parameters during cortical development. Clinical implications for pathological alterations of GABAergic signaling in neurological and psychiatric disorders are discussed

Individual differences and creative ideation: neuromodulatory signatures of mindset and response inhibition

This study addresses the modulatory role of individual mindset in explaining the relationship between response inhibition (RI) and divergent thinking (DT) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Forty undergraduate students (22 male and 18 female), aged between 18 and 23 years (average age = 19 years, SD = 1.48), were recruited. Participants received either anodal tDCS of the right IFG coupled with cathodal tDCS of the left IFG (R + L−; N = 19) or the opposite coupling (R−L+; N = 21). We tested DT performance using the alternative uses task (AUT), measuring participants’ fluency, originality, and flexibility in the response production, as well as participants’ mindsets. Furthermore, we applied a go-no-go task to examine the role of RI before and after stimulating the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) using tDCS. The results showed that the mindset levels acted as moderators on stimulation conditions and enhanced RI on AUT fluency and flexibility but not originality. Intriguingly, growth mindsets have opposite moderating effects on the change in DT, resulting from the tDCS stimulation of the left and the right IFG, with reduced fluency but enhanced flexibility. Our findings imply that understanding neural modulatory signatures of ideational processes with tDCS strongly benefits from evaluating cognitive status and control functions

A comparative randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus versus hydrocortisone as a topical treatment of atopic dermatitis in children

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) aetiology is not exactly identified, but it is characterized by pruritic skin reactions with elevation in the levels of inflammatory markers. Despite the fact that Corticosteroids are the mainstay therapy in the management of AD, they have many local and systemic adverse effects.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus ointment in comparison to topical hydrocortisone cream in the management of the AD of children diagnosed with AD.Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 200 children with AD. They were simply randomized into two groups, the tacrolimus group treated with 0.03% topical tacrolimus ointment and the hydrocortisone group treated with 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily during the 3 weeks study period.Results: At the end of the study, both the tacrolimus and hydrocortisone groups showed a significant decline in the mean serum level of IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23 (p &lt; 0.05) when compared to their baseline levels. However, the tacrolimus group showed a more significant decrease (p &lt; 0.05) in the mean serum level of IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23 as compared to the hydrocortisone group [Mean differences = 1.600, 95% CI: 0.9858–2.214; 1.300, 95% CI: 1.086–1.514 and 4.200, 95% CI: 3.321–5.079]. Moreover, the median mEASI decreased similarly from 32 to 21 in the tacrolimus group and from 30 to 22 in the hydrocortisone group (p &gt; 0.05) [Median difference = −2.000, 95% CI: −2.651 to −1.349; Median difference = 1.000, 95% CI: 0.3489–1.651]. Mild to moderate transient stinging and erythema were the main adverse effects that showed higher incidence in the tacrolimus group than in the hydrocortisone group (p &lt; 0.05). In most cases, they resolved within 3–4 days. Besides, tacrolimus ointment did not cause skin atrophy as compared to the hydrocortisone group (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: Tacrolimus ointment is more beneficial than hydrocortisone cream in managing AD in children in terms of lowering the inflammatory markers, however, there is no difference on the dermatitis severity scale. Moreover, tacrolimus is safer with a better side effect profile compared to hydrocortisone.Trial Registration: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (CT.gov identifier: NCT05324618

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely