One-two-way pass-move for knots and links

We define a local move for knots and links called the {\em one-two-way pass-move}, abbreviated briefly as the {\em $1$-$2$-move}. The $1$-$2$-move is motivated from the pass-move and the $\#$-move, and it is a hybrid of them. We show that the equivalence under the $1$-$2$-move for knots is the same as that of the pass-move: a knot $K$ is $1$-$2$-move equivalent to an unknot (a trefoil respectively) if and only if the Arf invariant of $K$ is $0$ ($1$ respectively). On the other hand, we show that the number of $1$-$2$-moves behaves differently from the number of pass-moves.Comment: 9 pages, 17 figure

Acupuncture Stimulation Attenuates Impaired Emotional-Like Behaviors and Activation of the Noradrenergic System during Protracted Abstinence following Chronic Morphine Exposure in Rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture stimulation attenuates withdrawal-induced behaviors in the rats during protracted abstinence following chronic morphine exposure. To do this, male rats were first exposed to morphine gradually from 20 to 100 mg/kg for 5 days, and subsequently naloxone was injected once to extend despair-related withdrawal behaviors for 4 weeks. Acupuncture stimulation was performed once at the SP6 (Sanyinjiao) acupoint on rat’s; hind leg for 5 min during protracted abstinence from morphine. The acupuncture stimulation significantly decreased despair-like behavior deficits in the forced swimming test and low sociability in the open-field test as well as increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze test in the last week of 4-week withdrawal period. Also the acupuncture stimulation significantly suppressed the increase in the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression, the decrease in the tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the locus coeruleus, and the decrease in the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression, induced by repeated injection of morphine. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the acupuncture stimulation of SP6 significantly reduces withdrawal-induced behaviors, induced by repeated administration of morphine in rats, possibly through the modulation of hypothalamic CRF and the central noradrenergic system

The Effectiveness of Moxibustion: An Overview During 10 Years

Moxibustion has been used to treat various types of disease. However, there is still insufficient evidence regarding its effectiveness. This study was performed to summarize and evaluate the effectiveness of moxibustion. A search was performed for all randomized controlled trials in PubMed between January 1998 and July 2008 with no language restriction. The results yielded 47 trials in which six moxibustion types were applied to 36 diseases ranging from breech presentation to digestive disorders. Moxibustion was compared to three types of control group: general care, Oriental medical therapies or waiting list. Moxibustion was superior to the control in 14 out of 54 control groups in 46 studies. There were no significant differences among groups in 7 studies, and the outcome direction was not determined in 33 studies. Seven studies were included in a meta-analysis. Moxibustion was more effective than medication in two ulcerative colitis studies (relative risk (95% CI), 2.20 (1.37, 3.52), P = .001, I2 = 0%). Overall, our results did not support the effectiveness of moxibustion in specific diseases due to the limited number and low quality of the studies and inadequate use of controls. In order to provide appropriate evidence regarding the effectiveness of moxibustion, more rigorous clinical trials using appropriate controls are warranted

Changes in Cytokine Expression after Electroacupuncture in Neuropathic Rats

The production of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a key role in chronic pain such as neuropathic pain. We investigated changes in cytokine expression in injured peripheral nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following electroacupuncture (EA) treatment. Neuropathic pain was induced by peripheral nerve injury to the left hind limb of Sprague-Dawley rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. Two weeks later, the nerve-injured rats were treated by EA for 10 minutes. The expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in peripheral nerves and DRG of neuropathic rats were significantly increased in nerve-injured rats. However, after EA, the cytokine expression levels were noticeably decreased in peripheral nerves and DRG. These results suggest that EA stimulation can reduce the levels of proinflamtory cytokines elevated after nerve injury

Auditors' gender differences and client portfolios

In this study, we examine whether and how gender of engagement audit partners affects client acceptance decisions. Using a sample of 2,767 firm-year observations of firms listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) from 2013-2014, we empirically investigate and compare the riskiness of clienteles between female and male auditors. The results indicate that on average female auditors have less risky clients in their client portfolios than male auditors. Furthermore, the negative association between female auditor gender and the level of risk in clienteles is more pronounced among the riskiest group of clients. The findings of this study suggest that gender differences between auditors may have important implications for client acceptance decisions and that such differences are more likely driven by high-risk engagement decisions

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Asthma via Modulating CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cells

A mouse pulmonary hypersensitivity experimental model that mimics human asthma was developed, and electroacupuncture (EA) treatment was shown to reduce allergic inflammatory processes. In addition, we also assessed whether the beneficial effects of EA on allergic asthma could be correlated with CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). Cellular profiles and histopathologic analysis demonstrated that peribronchial and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrates were significantly decreased in the EA-treated groups when compared to the OVA and anti-CD25 Ab-injected (Treg depletion) groups. Furthermore, total BAL cells were reduced in the EA groups when compared to other groups. Interestingly, the population of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Tregs in pneumonocytes increased in EA-treated group when compared to OVA and Treg depletion groups. These results imply that EA stimulation at ST 36 may affect CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg in an OVA-induced experimental model and may enhance Treg function by suppressing other T cells and limiting the immune response

Effects of a Four-Week Core Stability Exercise on Functional Movement and Balance in People with Mild Lower-limb Discomfort

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a short-term core stability exercise on functional movement and balance in people with mild lower-limb discomfort. Twenty people with mild lower-limb discomfort were randomly assigned to control (CG) and core stability exercise training groups (SG, n=10 each). The SG completed twenty 30-min training sessions consisting of Pilates exercises for four weeks. Functional movement, balance, and discomfort level were assessed before and after core stability exercise, using a functional movement test, balance test and visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively. A mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to determine the differences. SG demonstrated a significant increase in hurdle step (p = 0.024, group × time effect) and shoulder mobility (p = 0.037, group × time effect). The dynamic balance scores were significantly increased from the baseline in both limbs (right, p = 0.007; left, p = 0.011, time effect). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons indicated these increases were significant only in SG. Additionally, ankle pain was significantly reduced in SG (p = 0.023, group × time effect). This study highlights that four weeks of core stability exercise can positively affect the lower limbs’ functional movement and balance in people with mild lower-limb discomfort

Acupuncture Stimulation Alleviates Corticosterone-Induced Impairments of Spatial Memory and Cholinergic Neurons in Rats

The purpose of this study was to examine whether acupuncture improves spatial cognitive impairment induced by repeated corticosterone (CORT) administration in rats. The effect of acupuncture on the acetylcholinergic system was also investigated in the hippocampus. Male rats were subcutaneously injected with CORT (5 mg/kg) once daily for 21 days. Acupuncture stimulation was performed at the HT7 (Sinmun) acupoint for 5 min before CORT injection. HT7 acupoint is located at the end of transverse crease of ulnar wrist of forepaw. In CORT-treated rats, reduced spatial cognitive function was associated with significant increases in plasma CORT level (+36%) and hippocampal CORT level (+204%) compared with saline-treated rats. Acupuncture stimulation improved the escape latency for finding the platform in the Morris water maze. Consistently, the acupuncture significantly alleviated memory-associated decreases in cholinergic immunoreactivity and mRNA expression of BDNF and CREB in the hippocampus. These findings demonstrate that stimulation of HT7 acupoint produced significant neuroprotective activity against the neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction