Molluscan memory of injury: evolutionary insights into chronic pain and neurological disorders.

Molluscan preparations have yielded seminal discoveries in neuroscience, but the experimental advantages of this group have not, until now, been complemented by adequate molecular or genomic information for comparisons to genetically defined model organisms in other phyla. The recent sequencing of the transcriptome and genome of Aplysia californica, however, will enable extensive comparative studies at the molecular level. Among other benefits, this will bring the power of individually identifiable and manipulable neurons to bear upon questions of cellular function for evolutionarily conserved genes associated with clinically important neural dysfunction. Because of the slower rate of gene evolution in this molluscan lineage, more homologs of genes associated with human disease are present in Aplysia than in leading model organisms from Arthropoda (Drosophila) or Nematoda (Caenorhabditis elegans). Research has hardly begun in molluscs on the cellular functions of gene products that in humans are associated with neurological diseases. On the other hand, much is known about molecular and cellular mechanisms of long-term neuronal plasticity. Persistent nociceptive sensitization of nociceptors in Aplysia displays many functional similarities to alterations in mammalian nociceptors associated with the clinical problem of chronic pain. Moreover, in Aplysia and mammals the same cell signaling pathways trigger persistent enhancement of excitability and synaptic transmission following noxious stimulation, and these highly conserved pathways are also used to induce memory traces in neural circuits of diverse species. This functional and molecular overlap in distantly related lineages and neuronal types supports the proposal that fundamental plasticity mechanisms important for memory, chronic pain, and other lasting alterations evolved from adaptive responses to peripheral injury in the earliest neurons. Molluscan preparations should become increasingly useful for comparative studies across phyla that can provide insight into cellular functions of clinically important genes

Characterization of the nitrogen split interstitial defect in wurtzite aluminum nitride using density functional theory

We carried out Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof hybrid density functional theory plane wave supercell calculations in wurtzite aluminum nitride in order to characterize the geometry, formation energies, transition levels and hyperfine tensors of the nitrogen split interstitial defect. The calculated hyperfine tensors may provide useful fingerprint of this defect for electron paramagnetic resonance measurement.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Maximally inhomogeneous G\"{o}del-Farnsworth-Kerr generalizations

It is pointed out that physically meaningful aligned Petrov type D perfect fluid space-times with constant zero-order Riemann invariants are either the homogeneous solutions found by G\"{o}del (isotropic case) and Farnsworth and Kerr (anisotropic case), or new inhomogeneous generalizations of these with non-constant rotation. The construction of the line element and the local geometric properties for the latter are presented.Comment: 4 pages, conference proceeding of Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE 2009, Bilbao

HUBUNGAN ANTARA KECANDUAN INTERNET DENGAN OBESITAS PADA MAHASISWA FAKULTAS KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT UNIVERSITAS SAM RATULANGI

Kecanduan merupakan suatu keterlibatan secara terus-menerus dengan sebuah aktivitas meskipun hal-hal tersebut mengakibatkan konsekuensi negatif. Obesitas adalah suatu penyakit serius yang dapat mengakibatkan masalah emosional dan social. Seseorang disebut obesitas apabila kelebihan berat badan mencapai lebih 20% dari berat normal. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara kecanduan internet dengan obesitas pada mahasiswa Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas Sam Ratulangi. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan studi cross sectional atau potong lintang, yang dilaksanakan pada bulan September- November 2019. Subjek penelitian adalah 130 mahasiswa. Instrumen penelitian yaitu kuisoner, timbangan dan mikrotois. Analisis data menggunakan Fisher Exact. Penelitian ini menunjukan responden yang memiliki IMT dengan presentase responden yang berstatus kurus 66,9%, untuk status gizi normal dengan persentase 21,5%, kemudian responden yang berstatus gizi gemuk dengan persentase 3,8%, dan untuk responden yang berstatus gizi obesitas 7,7%, responden yang kecanduan internet memiliki nilai persentase 96.9% dan responden yang tidak kecanduan sebesar 3,1%.Penelitian ini juga  didapatkan 6,2% responden yang kecanduan internet dan 1,5% responden yang tidak kecanduan internet memiliki status gizi obesitas, sedangkan 90,8% responden yang kecanduan internet dan 1,5% responden yang tidak kecanduan internet memiliki status gizi Non obesitas. Uji statistik menunjukan bahwa ada hubungan antara kecanduan internet dengan obesitas dengan nilai p= 0,030<0,05.Bagi mahasiswa diharapkan agar peduli terhadap kesehatan diri sendiri dengan membatasi pemakaian internet secara berlebihan yang dapat berpengaruh terhadap keseimbangan antara pemakaian internet dengan aktifitas social yang ada di lingkungan rumah atau di tempat lainya sehingga memiliki aktifitas fisik yang baik dan terhindar dari obesitas. Kata Kunci : Kecanduan internet, Obesitas, Mahasiswa FKM Unsrat ABSTRACTAddiction is an involvement continuously with activity even though these things result in negative consequences. Obesity is a serious illness that can cause emotional and social problems. Someone called obesity if overweight reaches more than 20% of normal weight. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between internet addiction and obesity among students of the Faculty of Public Health, Sam Ratulangi University. This research is a quantitative research using a cross-sectional study, which was conducted in September-November 2019. The research subjects were 130 students. The research instruments are questionnaires, the scale, and microtois. Data analysis using Fisher Exact. This research shows that respondents who have a BMI with a percentage of respondents the status skinny 66.9%, for normal nutritional status with a percentage of 21.5%, then respondents who are obese nutritional status with a percentage of 3.8%, and for respondents who are obese nutritional status 7,7%, respondents who are addicted to the internet have a percentage value of 96.9% and respondents who are not addicted by 3.1%. This research also found 6.2% of respondents who are addicted to the internet and 1.5% of respondents who are not addicted to the internet have nutritional status of obesity, while 90.8% of respondents who are addicted to the internet and 1.5% of respondents who are not addicted to the internet have nutritional status non obesity. Keywords: Internet Addiction, Obesity, Students of The Faculty of Public Health Sam Ratulangi University

Cis-regulatory elements of the mitotic regulator, string/Cdc25

Mitosis in most Drosophila cells is triggered by brief bursts of transcription of string (stg), a Cdc25-type phosphatase that activates the mitotic kinase, Cdk1 (Cdc2). To understand how string transcription is regulated, we analyzed the expression of string-lacZ reporter genes covering approximately 40 kb of the string locus. We also tested protein coding fragments of the string locus of 6 kb to 31.6 kb for their ability to complement loss of string function in embryos and imaginal discs. A plethora of cis-acting elements spread over >30 kb control string transcription in different cells and tissue types. Regulatory elements specific to subsets of epidermal cells, mesoderm, trachea and nurse cells were identified, but the majority of the string locus appears to be devoted to controlling cell proliferation during neurogenesis. Consistent with this, compact promotor-proximal sequences are sufficient for string function during imaginal disc growth, but additional distal elements are required for the development of neural structures in the eye, wing, leg and notum. We suggest that, during evolution, cell-type-specific control elements were acquired by a simple growth-regulated promoter as a means of coordinating cell division with developmental processes, particularly neurogenesis.Dara A. Lehman; Briony Patterson, Laura A. Johnston; Tracy Balzer; Jessica S. Britton; Robert Saint and Bruce A. Edga

Modeling and Optimization of Lactic Acid Synthesis by the Alkaline Degradation of Fructose in a Batch Reactor

The present work deals with the determination of the optimal operating conditions of lactic acid synthesis by the alkaline degradation of fructose. It is a complex transformation for which detailed knowledge is not available. It is carried out in a batch or semi-batch reactor. The ‘‘Tendency Modeling’’ approach, which consists of the development of an approximate stoichiometric and kinetic model, has been used. An experimental planning method has been utilized as the database for model development. The application of the experimental planning methodology allows comparison between the experimental and model response. The model is then used in an optimization procedure to compute the optimal process. The optimal control problem is converted into a nonlinear programming problem solved using the sequencial quadratic programming procedure coupled with the golden search method. The strategy developed allows simultaneously optimizing the different variables, which may be constrained. The validity of the methodology is illustrated by the determination of the optimal operating conditions of lactic acid production

SIMBA: a web tool for managing bacterial genome assembly generated by Ion PGM sequencing technology

Background The evolution of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has considerably reduced the cost per sequenced-base, allowing a significant rise of sequencing projects, mainly in prokaryotes. However, the range of available NGS platforms requires different strategies and software to correctly assemble genomes. Different strategies are necessary to properly complete an assembly project, in addition to the installation or modification of various software. This requires users to have significant expertise in these software and command line scripting experience on Unix platforms, besides possessing the basic expertise on methodologies and techniques for genome assembly. These difficulties often delay the complete genome assembly projects. Results In order to overcome this, we developed SIMBA (SImple Manager for Bacterial Assemblies), a freely available web tool that integrates several component tools for assembling and finishing bacterial genomes. SIMBA provides a friendly and intuitive user interface so bioinformaticians, even with low computational expertise, can work under a centralized administrative control system of assemblies managed by the assembly center head. SIMBA guides the users to execute assembly process through simple and interactive pages. SIMBA workflow was divided in three modules: (i) projects: allows a general vision of genome sequencing projects, in addition to data quality analysis and data format conversions; (ii) assemblies: allows de novo assemblies with the software Mira, Minia, Newbler and SPAdes, also assembly quality validations using QUAST software; and (iii) curation: presents methods to finishing assemblies through tools for scaffolding contigs and close gaps. We also presented a case study that validated the efficacy of SIMBA to manage bacterial assemblies projects sequenced using Ion Torrent PGM. Conclusion Besides to be a web tool for genome assembly, SIMBA is a complete genome assemblies project management system, which can be useful for managing of several projects in laboratories. SIMBA source code is available to download and install in local webservers at http://ufmg-simba.sourceforge.net