Anomalous response in the vicinity of spontaneous symmetry breaking

We propose a mechanism to induce negative AC permittivity in the vicinity of a ferroelectric phase transition involved with spontaneous symmetry breaking. This mechanism makes use of responses at low frequency, yielding a high gain and a large phase delay, when the system jumps over the free-energy barrier with the aid of external fields. We illustrate the mechanism by analytically studying spin models with the Glauber-typed dynamics under periodic perturbations. Then, we show that the scenario is supported by numerical simulations of mean-field as well as two-dimensional spin systems.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Two-point discrimination values vary depending on test site, sex and test modality in the orofacial region: a preliminary study

The two-point discrimination (TPD) test is one of the most commonly used neurosensory tests to assess mechanoperception in the clinical settings. While there have been numerous studies of functional sensibility of the hand using TPD test, there have been relatively not enough reports on TPD in the orofacial region. Objective The aims of the present study were to determine the normal values of TPD in the six trigeminal sites (the forehead, cheek, mentum, upper lip, lower lip, and the tongue tip) and to investigate the effect of the site, sex, and test modality on the TPD perception. Material and Methods Forty healthy volunteers consisting of age-matched men (20) and women (20) with a mean age of 27.1 years were recruited. One examiner performed the TPD test using a simple hand-operated device, i.e., by drawing compass with a blunt or sharp-pointed tip. The static TPD with a blunt-pointed tip (STPDB), moving TPD with a blunt-pointed tip (MTPDB), and static TPD with a sharp-pointed tip (STPDS) were measured. The predictors were the site, sex, and test modality, and the outcome variable was the TPD value. Three-way ANOVA was used for statistics. Results The analysis showed a significant effect of the site, sex and test modality on the TPD values. Significant differences between the test sites were observed with the descending order from the forehead and cheek>;mentum>;upper lip and lower lip>;tongue tip and index finger. Women showed lower TPD values than those of men. The STPDS measurements were consistently lower than those of the STPDB and MTPDB. Conclusions The normal values of TPD in this study suggest that the cheek and forehead were less sensitive than other regions evaluated and women were more sensitive than men. The STPDS was the most sensitive test modality

Role of LAB in Silage Fermentation: Effect on Nutritional Quality and Organic Acid Production—An Overview

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inocula play a key role in the preservation and fermentation of forage crops within inoculated silages. LAB is a significant group of the bacterial community as they successfully reduce pH, inhibit the survival of undesirable microorganisms and control nutrient loss in fermented silage. Ensiled plants and metabolites such as simple plant carbohydrates have been utilized by LAB (homo-fermentative and hetero-fermentative LAB) to initiate the production of organic acids including lactic and acetic acids. LAB as a biological silage additive provides stable feed value and secondary metabolic products during rapid anaerobic primary silage fermentation. They are able to ferment a large number of forage crops and also to reduce pH levels in fermented forages, which helps to suppress the growth of spoilage microorganisms. Furthermore, silage inoculants can enhance silage quality, nutritional recovery and shelf life of the inoculated product. When ingested silage, Lactobacilli in the rumen may degrade secondary plant metabolites as part of the rumen microbiota, along with endogenous enzymes. Also, the forages harvesting time are key factors in the development of essential metabolites particularly carbohydrates and proteins which is essential nutrition for LAB survival and production of organic acids. The higher population of LAB could reduce the pH faster and control of deleterious microbial growth in silage. This review presents LAB function in silage production and the potential impacts of its fermentative activity. In addition, the advantage of LAB additives in silage production is discussed, with a focus on recent literature

Insight into highly conserved H1 subtype-specific epitopes in influenza virus hemagglutinin

Influenza viruses continuously undergo antigenic changes with gradual accumulation of mutations in hemagglutinin (HA) that is a major determinant in subtype specificity. The identification of conserved epitopes within specific HA subtypes gives an important clue for developing new vaccines and diagnostics. We produced and characterized nine monoclonal antibodies that showed significant neutralizing activities against H1 subtype influenza viruses, and determined the complex structure of HA derived from a 2009 pandemic virus A/Korea/01/2009 (KR01) and the Fab fragment from H1-specific monoclonal antibody GC0587. The overall structure of the complex was essentially identical to the previously determined KR01 HA-Fab0757 complex structure. Both Fab0587 and Fab0757 recognize readily accessible head regions of HA, revealing broadly shared and conserved antigenic determinants among H1 subtypes. The beta-strands constituted by Ser110-Glu115 and Lys169-Lys170 form H1 epitopes with distinct conformations from those of H1 and H3 HA sites. In particular, Glu112, Glu115, Lys169, and Lys171 that are highly conserved among H1 subtype HAs have close contacts with HCDR3 and LCDR3. The differences between Fab0587 and Fab0757 complexes reside mainly in HCDR3 and LCDR3, providing distinct antigenic determinants specific for 1918 pdm influenza strain. Our results demonstrate a potential key neutralizing epitope important for H1 subtype specificity in influenza virus

Modulation of Osteogenic and Myogenic Differentiation by a Phytoestrogen Formononetin via p38MAPK-Dependent JAK-STAT and Smad-1/5/8 Signaling Pathways in Mouse Myogenic Progenitor Cells

Formononetin (FN), a typical phytoestrogen has attracted substantial attention as a novel agent because of its diverse biological activities including, osteogenic differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying osteogenic and myogenic differentiation by FN in C2C12 progenitor cells remain unknown. Therefore the objective of the current study was to investigate the action of FN on myogenic and osteogenic differentiation and its impact on signaling pathways in C2C12 cells. FN significantly increased myogenic markers such as Myogenin, myosin heavy chains, and myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD). In addition, the expression of osteogenic specific genes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Run-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and osteocalcin (OCN) were up-regulated by FN treatment. Moreover, FN enhanced the ALP level, calcium deposition and the expression of bone morphogenetic protein isoform (BMPs). Signal transduction pathways mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), extracellular signal-related kinases (ERKs), protein kinase B (Akt), Janus kinases (JAKs), and signal transducer activator of transcription proteins (STATs) in myogenic and osteogenic differentiation after FN treatment were also examined. FN treatment activates myogenic differentiation by increasing p38MAPK and decreasing JAK1-STAT1 phosphorylation levels, while osteogenic induction was enhanced by p38MAPK dependent Smad, 1/5/8 signaling pathways in C2C12 progenitor cells

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BALL VELOCITY AND UPPER EXTREMITY KINEMATICS DURING AN OVERARM THROWING SELF-PRACTICE PROGRAM

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the ball velocity and upper extremity kinematics in inexperienced individuals during a 5 weeks selfpractice overarm throwing. Seven women participated in this study. Participants performed 15 overarm throwing 3 days in a week for 5 weeks. The relationship between the ball velocity and the first-last week overarm throwing upper extremity kinematics data (maximum angles and angular velocities) were statistically analyzed using Spearman’s rho. Results showed there was weak to moderate relationship for both maximum angles and angular velocities of trunk, shoulder, and elbow. Rotational movements of upper extremities should be prioritized at the early stages of throwing skills acquisitions

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Protein Phosphatase 2C of Two Scuticociliates – Uronema marinum and Miamiensis avidus (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatia)

Complementary DNAs (cDNAs) of protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) were cloned from two marine scuticociliates Uronema marinum and Miamiensis avidus. Both PP2C proteins showed structural characteristics of typical PP2C, such as highly conserved amino acid residues predicted for binding to phosphate and metal ions, 11 conserved PP2C motifs and 10 invariant residues. The phosphatase activity of recombinantly produced U. marinum PP2C (UmPP2C) was in proportion to the PP2C protein and Mg2+ concentrations, and was not sensitive to okadaic acid, but was inhibited by sodium fluoride, EDTA or Ca2+. The expression of UmPP2C was significantly up-regulated by exposure the ciliates with PMA suggesting that UmPP2C dephosphrylates proteins phosphorylated by protein kinases as in other eukaryotes and has a regulatory function against abrupt increase of protein phosphorylation triggered by strong stimulations