Effects of Inhibitory Synapses on Dendritic Spine Clustering in Adult Rat Hippocampus

Synaptic clustering can serve as a computational unit for the distribution of synaptic resources across dendritic segments. In this study, we investigate whether inhibitory synapses influence the frequency or size of excitatory synapses (whether spine or shaft synapses) in a cluster, and whether the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) affects this relationship in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 of adult rat hippocampus. We induced LTP through theta-burst stimulation (TBS) in one of two stimulating electrodes through test pulses, while the second stimulating electrode was given test pulses without TBS. We identified symmetric, presumably inhibitory synapses by their equally thin presynaptic and postsynaptic densities, as well as by the pleiomorphic vesicles in the associated axonal bouton. Synaptic clusters were delineated by surrounding asynaptic regions of at least 120 nm. Our preliminary analyses includes 84 clusters and 5 clusters in the LTP and control conditions, respectively. Our preliminary findings show that there are fewer clusters with symmetric synapses two hours post-LTP, and that the surface areas of their symmetric synapses are larger. On one hand, clusters with symmetric synapses had lower asymmetric spine densities than those without. On the other hand, asymmetric synapse densities were consistent between LTP and control if a symmetric synapse is present. These findings suggest that symmetric synapses influences the local spines and synapses in their cluster, and thus serves as an additional layer of analysis in treating synaptic clusters as a computational unit.Neuroscienc

The Implementation of Sister City Agreement on Tourism between the Special Region of Yogyakarta Indonesia and Kyoto Japan

Sister City between Yogyakarta and Kyoto is one of the most active cooperations in Indonesia. This cooperation covers various fields such as academics, economy, culture, and tourism. This paper focuses merely on the tourism sector program from 2015 to 2018 because Yogyakarta and Kyoto are famous tourism destinations. Moreover, from 2015 to 2018, there was a significant increase in Japanese tourists coming to Yogyakarta. It prompts an investigation on ‘how did the implementation of the cooperative agreement in tourism from 2015 to 2018 between the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Kyoto lead to mutual benefits?’. It is underpinned by two theoretical frameworks: the sister city concept and cultural diplomacy. This research aims to unpack the implementation of the Sister City Program between the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Kyoto in tourism from 2015 to 2018. This research revealed successful cooperation related to disaster risk and tourism management, promotion, and information

Degree of Scaffolding: Learning Objective Metadata: A Prototype Leaning System Design for Integrating GIS into a Civil Engineering Curriculum

Digital media and networking offer great potential as tools for enhancing classroom learning environments, both local and distant. One concept and related technological tool that can facilitate the effective application and distribution of digital educational resources is learning objects in combination with the SCORM (sharable content objects reference model) compliance framework. Progressive scaffolding is a learning design approach for educational systems that provides flexible guidance to students. We are in the process of utilizing this approach within a SCORM framework in the form of a multi-level instructional design. The associated metadata required by SCORM will describe the degree of scaffolding. This paper will discuss progressive scaffolding as it relates to SCORM compliant learning objects, within the context of the design of an application for integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into the civil engineering curriculum at the University of Missouri - Rolla

Comunicación organizacional y trabajo en equipo en el área administrativa de una municipalidad en el departamento de La Libertad, 2022

La presente investigación tuvo como propósito determinar la relación entrecomunicación organizacional y trabajo en equipo en el área administrativa de unamunicipalidad en el departamento de la Libertad, 2022. El estudio siguió un enfoque cuantitativo de tipo aplicada, diseño no experimental decorte transversal y de alcance descriptivo correlacional. La población fue estudiada ensu totalidad, tomando en cuenta a 23 trabajadores a quienes se aplicó el instrumentode cuestionario y como técnica la encuesta. Se obtuvo como resultado, un nivel regularpara comunicación organizacional 73,9%, y trabajo en equipo 60,9%; asimismo, parael tercer objetivo específico se obtuvo (Rho=0,444) y para el cuarto objetivo específicoun (Rho=0,698) que representan una correlación positiva moderada, para el quintoobjetivo específico un (Rho=0,325) que representa una correlación positiva débil, parael sexto objetivo específico un (Rho=0,599) representando una correlación positivamoderada. Finalmente, se concluye que comunicación organizacional tuvo unacorrelación positiva fuerte significativa con el trabajo en equipo (Rho = 0,770, Sig.=000), aceptándose la Hi, lo que significa que una buena comunicación promoveráque los trabajadores se comprometan a cumplir con los objetivos establecidos, y porende mejore el trabajo en equipo, contando con buen clima laboral

Next-Generation Probiotics Targeting \u3ci\u3eClostridium difficile\u3c/i\u3e through Precursor- Directed Antimicrobial Biosynthesis

Integration of antibiotic and probiotic therapy has the potential to lessen the public health burden of antimicrobial-associated diseases. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) represents an important example where the rational design of next-generation probiotics is being actively pursued to prevent disease recurrence. Because intrinsic resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics used to treat CDI (vancomycin, metronidazole, and fidaxomicin) is a desired trait in such probiotic species, we screened several bacteria and identified Lactobacillus reuteri to be a promising candidate for adjunct therapy. Human-derived L. reuteri bacteria convert glycerol to the broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound reuterin. When supplemented with glycerol, strains carrying the pocR gene locus were potent reuterin producers, with L. reuteri 17938 inhibiting C. difficile growth at a level on par with the level of growth inhibition by vancomycin. Targeted pocR mutations and complementation studies identified reuterin to be the precursor-induced antimicrobial agent. Pathophysiological relevance was demonstrated when the codelivery of L. reuteri with glycerol was effective against C. difficile colonization in complex human fecal microbial communities, whereas treatment with either glycerol or L. reuteri alone was ineffective. A global unbiased microbiome and metabolomics analysis independently confirmed that glycerol precursor delivery with L. reuteri elicited changes in the composition and function of the human microbial community that preferentially targets C. difficile outgrowth and toxicity, a finding consistent with glycerol fermentation and reuterin production. Antimicrobial resistance has thus been successfully exploited in the natural design of human microbiome evasion of C. difficile, and this method may provide a prototypic precursor-directed probiotic approach. Antibiotic resistance and substrate bioavailability may therefore represent critical new determinants of probiotic efficacy in clinical trials

Development of a Rabbit Human Glioblastoma Model for Testing of Endovascular Selective Intra-Arterial Infusion (ESIA) of Novel Stem Cell-Based Therapeutics

BACKGROUND: Endovascular selective intra-arterial (ESIA) infusion of cellular oncotherapeutics is a rapidly evolving strategy for treating glioblastoma. Evaluation of ESIA infusion requires a unique animal model. Our goal was to create a rabbit human GBM model to test IA infusions of cellular therapies and to test its usefulness by employing clinical-grade microcatheters and infusion methods to deliver mesenchymal stem cells loaded with an oncolytic adenovirus, Delta-24-RGD (MSC-D24). METHODS: Rabbits were immunosuppressed with mycophenolate mofetil, dexamethasone, and tacrolimus. They underwent stereotactic xenoimplantation of human GBM cell lines (U87, MDA-GSC-17, and MDA-GSC-8-11) into the right frontal lobe. Tumor formation was confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging, histologic, and immunohistochemistry analysis. Selective microcatheter infusion of MSC-D24 was performed via the ipsilateral internal carotid artery to assess model utility and the efficacy and safety of this approach. RESULTS: Twenty-five rabbits were implanted (18 with U87, 2 MDA-GSC-17, and 5 MDA-GSC-8-11). Tumors formed in 68% of rabbits (77.8% for U87, 50.0% for MDA-GSC-17, and 40.0% for MDA-GSC-8-11). On MRI, the tumors were hyperintense on T2-weighted image with variable enhancement (evidence of blood brain barrier breakdown). Histologically, tumors showed phenotypic traits of human GBM including varying levels of vascularity. ESIA infusion into the distal internal carotid artery of 2 ml of MSCs-D24 (107 cells) was safe in the model. Examination of post infusion specimens documented that MSCs-D24 homed to the implanted tumor at 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: The intracranial immunosuppressed rabbit human GBM model allows testing of ESIA infusion of novel therapeutics (eg, MSC-D24) in a clinically relevant fashion

Rapid prototyping of patterned functional nanostructures

Living systems exhibit form and function on multiple length scales, and the prospect of imparting life-like qualities to man-made materials has inspired many recent efforts to devise hierarchical materials assembly strategies. For example, Yang et al. grew surfactant-templated mesoporous silica on hydrophobic patterns prepared by micro-contact printing {micro}CP{sup 3}. Trau et al. formed oriented mesoporous silica patterns, using a micro-molding in capillaries MIMIC technique, and Yang et al. combined MIMIC, polystyrene sphere templating, and surfactant-templating to create oxides with three levels of structural order. Overall, great progress has been made to date in controlling structure on scales ranging from several nanometers to several micrometers. However, materials prepared have been limited to oxides with no specific functionality, whereas for many of the envisioned applications of hierarchical materials in micro-systems, sensors, waveguides, photonics, and electronics, it is necessary to define both form and function on several length scales. In addition, the patterning strategies employed thus far require hours or even days for completion. Such slow processes are inherently difficult to implement in commercial environments. The authors have combined evaporation-induced (silica/surfactant) self-assembly EISA with rapid prototyping techniques like pen lithography, ink-jet printing, and dip-coating on micro-contact printed substrates to form hierarchically organized structures in seconds. In addition, by co-condensation of tetrafunctional silanes (Si(OR){sub 4}) with tri-functional organosilanes ((RO){sub 3}SiR{prime}){sup 12--14} or by inclusion of organic additives, the authors have selectively derivatized the silica framework with functional R{prime} ligands or molecules. The resulting materials exhibit form and function on multiple length scales: on the molecular scale, functional organic moieties are positioned on pore surfaces, on the mesoscale, monosized pores are organized into 1-, 2-, or 3-dimensional networks, providing size-selective accessibility from the gas or liquid phase, and on the macroscale, 2-dimensional arrays and fluidic or photonic systems may be defined

International criteria for electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes: Consensus statement.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of mortality in athletes during sport. A variety of mostly hereditary, structural or electrical cardiac disorders are associated with SCD in young athletes, the majority of which can be identified or suggested by abnormalities on a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Whether used for diagnostic or screening purposes, physicians responsible for the cardiovascular care of athletes should be knowledgeable and competent in ECG interpretation in athletes. However, in most countries a shortage of physician expertise limits wider application of the ECG in the care of the athlete. A critical need exists for physician education in modern ECG interpretation that distinguishes normal physiological adaptations in athletes from distinctly abnormal findings suggestive of underlying pathology. Since the original 2010 European Society of Cardiology recommendations for ECG interpretation in athletes, ECG standards have evolved quickly, advanced by a growing body of scientific data and investigations that both examine proposed criteria sets and establish new evidence to guide refinements. On 26-27 February 2015, an international group of experts in sports cardiology, inherited cardiac disease, and sports medicine convened in Seattle, Washington (USA), to update contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes. The objective of the meeting was to define and revise ECG interpretation standards based on new and emerging research and to develop a clear guide to the proper evaluation of ECG abnormalities in athletes. This statement represents an international consensus for ECG interpretation in athletes and provides expert opinion-based recommendations linking specific ECG abnormalities and the secondary evaluation for conditions associated with SCD

Patrolling on Dynamic Ring Networks

We study the problem of patrolling the nodes of a network collaboratively by a team of mobile agents, such that each node of the network is visited by at least one agent once in every $I(n)$ time units, with the objective of minimizing the idle time $I(n)$. While patrolling has been studied previously for static networks, we investigate the problem on dynamic networks with a fixed set of nodes, but dynamic edges. In particular, we consider 1-interval-connected ring networks and provide various patrolling algorithms for such networks, for $k=2$ or $k>2$ agents. We also show almost matching lower bounds that hold even for the best starting configurations. Thus, our algorithms achieve close to optimal idle time. Further, we show a clear separation in terms of idle time, for agents that have prior knowledge of the dynamic networks compared to agents that do not have such knowledge. This paper provides the first known results for collaborative patrolling on dynamic graphs