Lack of brain serotonin affects feeding and differentiation of newborn cells in the adult hypothalamus

Serotonin (5-HT) is a crucial signal in the neurogenic niche microenvironment. Dysregulation of the 5-HT system leads to mood disorders but also to changes in appetite and metabolic rate. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2-deficient (Tph2(-/-)) mice depleted of brain 5-HT display alterations in these parameters, e.g., increased food consumption, modest impairment of sleep and respiration accompanied by a less anxious phenotype. The newly discovered neural stem cell niche of the adult hypothalamus has potential implications of mediating stress responses and homeostatic functions. Using Tph2(-/-) mice, we explore stem cell behavior and cell genesis in the adult hypothalamus. Specifically, we examine precursor cell proliferation and survival in Tph2(-/-) mice at baseline and following Western-type diet (WD). Our results show a decline in BrdU numbers with aging in the absence of 5-HT. Furthermore, wild type mice under dietary challenge decrease cell proliferation and survival in the hypothalamic niche. In contrast, increased high-calorie food intake by Tph2(-/-) mice does not come along with alterations in cell numbers. However, lack of brain 5-HT results in a shift of cell phenotypes that was abolished under WD. We conclude that precursor cells in the hypothalamus retain fate plasticity and respond to environmental challenges. A novel link between 5-HT signaling and cell genesis in the hypothalamus could be exploited as therapeutic target in metabolic disease

Holistic Health, Disadvantage, Higher Education Access and Success: A Reflection

The objective of this article is to reflect upon the relationships amongst health, disadvantage, educational opportunities, and higher education access and success. This is a reflective article taken from the literaturereview of a doctoral study on the relationship between health, access to, and success within, higher education. The importance of health in education and the practical implementation of programmes resulting in enhanced health and academic success amongst higher education students is reviewed.  Literature for the doctoral study on which this reflection was based was sourced predominantly from Pub-Med Central, the U.S. National Institute of Health National Library of Medicine and The South African South-East Academic Library Services. From this discussion, the rationale for a holistic health promotion programme within the higher education setting, for students from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds, is given. The problem of educational failure of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in higher education could be lessened by instituting a holistic health promotion programme within the first year of study. Evidence suggests that such a programme would have both health and educational advantages

Flecs, a flexible coupling shell - Parallel application to fluid-structure interaction

In this paper we discuss the second version of FLECS, a generic, open-source coupling shell that can be used to join two or more arbitrary solvers. In general multidisciplinary computations are very computing-intensive. A remedy against long computing times is large-scale parallelism. The challenge of the present parallelization work is to obtain acceptable computing times and to get rid of severe memory requirements that exist on sequential machines, for the generic flow problems at hand. The aim is to provide a flexible platform for developing new data transfer algorithms and coupling schemes

FLECS, a Flexible Coupling Shell Parallel Application to Fluid-Structure Interaction

In this paper we discuss the second version of FLECS, a generic, open-source coupling shell that can be used to join two or more arbitrary solvers. In general multidisciplinary computations are very computing-intensive. A remedy against long computing times is large-scale parallelism. The challenge of the present parallelization work is to obtain acceptable computing times and to get rid of severe memory requirements that exist on sequential machines, for the generic flow problems at hand. The aim is to provide a flexible platform for developing new data transfer algorithms and coupling schemes

Extreme oceanographic events recorded in the Southern Benguela during the 1999-2000 summer season

Two unusual oceanographic events occurred during the 1999-2000 summer season off the west coast of South Africa. The first was a strong and sustained warming that occurred in mid-December and lasted for two weeks. The second was an enhanced cooling that lasted from mid to late summer. These two events were the result of fluctuations in wind-induced upwelling. The spatial as well as the temporal extent of these conditions are analysed and the corresponding atmospheric setting is described. Using climatological data, the 1999-2000 summer season is placed in the long-term context of the climatic variability in the region. The influence of those two events on phytoplankton and anchovy recruitment may have contributed to a record high level of anchovy recruitment in 2000

Use of grid tools to support CMS distributed analysis

In order to prepare the Physics Technical Design Report, due by end of 2005, the CMS experiment needs to simulate, reconstruct and analyse about 100 million events, corresponding to more than 200 TB of data. The data will be distributed to several Computing Centres. In order to provide access to the whole data sample to all the world-wide dispersed physicists, CMS is developing a layer of software that uses the Grid tools provided by the LCG project to gain access to data and resources and that aims to provide a user friendly interface to the physicists submitting the analysis jobs. To achieve these aims CMS will use Grid tools from both the LCG-2 release and those being developed in the framework of the ARDA project. This work describes the current status and the future developments of the CMS analysis system

A review of remote-sensing unmanned aerial vehicles in the mining industry

The increased adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may improve the productivity and costeffectiveness of remote sensing in the mining industry. This review’s objective is to enable stakeholders to identify possible application adoption, improvement, and innovation opportunities. The review merges a building block strategy and practical screening criteria to identify possible avenues of research to answer the review questions. After the screening process, 72 documents were included in the review. Papers were classified into four categories: exploration, development, exploitation, and reclamation. Fifteen applications were identified, the majority of which were in the exploration phase. The most often researched applications were topographic surveys, reclamation monitoring, and slope management. From the two UAV types identified, multi-rotor vehicles were the most favoured for all applications. From the eight remote sensing techniques identified, photogrammetry was the one most often used. Other techniques were limited because of complexity, cost, or the incompatibility of sensors and UAVs. The review was limited to published papers in academic journals. Future studies could aim to include empirical data on the latest UAV applications used in the mining industry.https://journals.co.za/journal/saimmam2023Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and normal protein permeability in the lungs of critically ill patients: a case for low pathogenicity?

INTRODUCTION: The pathogenicity of late respiratory infections with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the critically ill is unclear. METHODS: In four critically ill patients with persistent pulmonary infiltrates of unknown origin and isolation of HSV-1 from tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, at 7 (1–11) days after start of mechanical ventilatory support, a pulmonary leak index (PLI) for (67)Gallium ((67)Ga)-transferrin (upper limit of normal 14.1 × 10(-3)/min) was measured. RESULTS: The PLI ranged between 7.5 and 14.0 × 10(-3)/min in the study patients. Two patients received a course of acyclovir and all survived. CONCLUSIONS: The normal capillary permeability observed in the lungs argues against pathogenicity of HSV-1 in the critically ill, and favors that isolation of the virus reflects reactivation in the course of serious illness and immunodepresssion, rather than primary or superimposed infection in the lungs

Factors Associated With Nonunion in Arthrodesis of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint:A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND: Arthrodesis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is the current treatment of choice for symptomatic advanced hallux rigidus and moderate-to-severe hallux valgus. There are different methods to perform arthrodesis, yet no consensus on the best approach. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of preoperative and postoperative hallux valgus angle (HVA), joint preparation and fixation technique, and postoperative immobilization on the incidence of nonunion.METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was performed that included 794 patients. Univariate and multiple logistic regression was conducted to determine associations between joint preparation, fixation techniques, postoperative immobilization, weightbearing, and pre- and postoperative HVA with nonunion.RESULTS: Nonunion incidence was 15.2%, with 11.1% symptomatic and revised. Joint preparation using hand instruments (OR 3.75, CI 1.90-7.42) and convex/concave reamers (OR 2.80, CI 1.52-5.16) were associated with greater odds of a nonunion compared to planar cuts. Joint fixation with crossed screws was associated with greater odds of nonunion (OR 2.00, CI 1.11-3.42), as was greater preoperative HVA (OR 1.02, CI 1.00-1.03). However, the latter effect disappeared after inclusion of postoperative HVA in the model, with a small association identified between residual postoperative HVA and nonunion (OR 1.04, CI 1.01-1.08). Similarly, we found an association between odds of nonunion and higher body weight (OR 1.02, CI 1.01-1.04) but not of body mass index.CONCLUSION: Based on our results, first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis with planar cuts and fixation with a plate and interfragmentary screw is associated with the lowest odds of resulting in a nonunion. Higher body weight and greater preoperative HVA were associated with slight increase in rates of nonunion. It is crucial to properly correct the hallux valgus deformity during surgery.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective case control study.</p

Randomized controlled trial comparing different single doses of intravenous paracetamol for placement of peripherally inserted central catheters in preterm infants

__Background:__ The availability of a safe and effective pharmacological therapy to reduce procedural pain in preterm infants is limited. The effective analgesic single dose of intravenous paracetamol in preterm infants is unknown. Comparative studies on efficacy of different paracetamol doses in preterm infants are lacking. __Objectives:__ To determine the analgesic effects of different single intravenous paracetamol doses on pain from peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in preterm infants. __Methods:__ In a blinded randomized controlled trial, the an